Yangquan Economic and Technological Development Area -- in Yangquan city in North China's Shanxi province -- recently adopted eight measures to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises get through the current novel coronavirus pneumonia epidemic period, when they may encounter difficulties in their operations, according to area officials. 

The measures include help with their tax and finances, rent, subsidies and insurance. 

Micro, small and medium-sized businesses that do experience special difficulties and cannot pay their taxes on time, can apply for deferred payment of taxes in accordance with the law.

Officials said the Yangquan Economic and Technological Development Area is encouraging financial institutions to provide finance to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises during the epidemic prevention and control period.

To reduce the burden of companies renting State-owned assets -- many of which have been ordered to postpone resumption of businesses to lower the risk of spreading virus -- the economic and technological area is exempting them from rent for February and March.

For those operating normally during the epidemic period, the area is granting subsidies for 90 percent of a company's spending on anti-epidemic supplies and protective equipment for employees. 

Officials said that Yangquan Economic and Technological Development Area is also extending the time limits to three months for corporate endowment insurance, unemployment insurance and work injury insurance payment between January and March.