WITH Shanghai aiming to reopen from Jun 1, Singapore businesses caught in its protracted lockdown are gearing up for a long-awaited return to business as usual. However, given how the earlier plans for easing did not materialise, not all are confident of the latest timeline given by the authorities.

Consumer brands told The Business Times that Shanghai shopping malls have asked them to prepare to reopen, but with few details on how and when this will happen.

Ang Kiam Lian, chief executive officer (China) of Jumbo Group, said he was recently asked by 2 malls if the group’s restaurants within the malls were keen to resume operations, which he regards as a “good sign”. “We see light at the end of the tunnel, although it’s still blurry. The general direction is there, so we are just going to apply to reopen, to make sure we are ready when it happens,” said Ang, who has 4 restaurants in Shanghai.