(Yicai Global) Feb. 18 -- The Covid-19 outbreak will not affect this year's production targets of China's state-owned enterprises controlled by the central government, according to the assistant commerce minister.

More than 80 percent of central enterprises' 20,000-plus manufacturing units have resumed work, Ren Hongbin said at a press conference today, citing preliminary statistics. That rate is 95 percent for key industries such as petroleum and petrochemicals, telecommunications, power grids, and transportation, he added. 

China prolonged the Spring Festival holiday by three days till Feb. 2 and many companies have encouraged their employees to work remotely after that to reduce transmission risks while schools, as well as many stores and restaurants have remained closed.

The aviation and tourism sectors have been majorly hit by the outbreak, said Ren. From Jan. 20 to Feb 13, three state-owned airlines refunded some 13 million tickets amid 78,000 canceled flights, he added.

However, the effect is temporary, according to Ren. Once the epidemic is contained, demand will rebound, he added.

China has 96 central SOEs that made 10.8 percent more in net profit at CNY1.3 trillion (USD185.6 billion) last year from a year before, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council's website. Their revenues rose by 5.6 percent. 

Editor: Emmi Laine