Technicians work at a plastic packaging equipment manufacturing plant affiliated with Demark Holding Group in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on Feb 10. [Photo by Tan Yunfeng/For China Daily]

According to the Zhejiang Provincial Economy and Information Technology Department, there were more than 2.22 million small and medium-sized enterprises in Zhejiang, making up 87.7 percent of the total number of companies registered in the province.

"SMEs are the source of energy of Zhejiang's economy, driving industrial upgrading and providing job opportunities," said Yue Yang, deputy head of the department.

In less than one month's time, Zhejiang Baiyi Garment Co Ltd, a down jacket designer and maker, converted its entire 13,000-square-meter factory space into assembly lines for surgical masks and protective clothing. By March 1, the assembly lines were able to churn out 5,000 protective garments every day. Lines with a daily capacity of 700,000 surgical masks started running on March 5.

"Our workshops are designed to be dustproof so our machines are advanced enough to produce protective clothing. But it takes us some time to upgrade the factory into a sterile environment and pass all the required examinations. It is not easy, but we want to make our contribution," said Wang Yaoshui, vice-president of Baiyi.

For Sun Chong, general manager of Zhoushan Yican Diary Co Ltd, a maker of office supplies and household appliances, the reason for converting his 1,200-square-meter plant into a mask production base is more personal.

"I tried to deliver 10,000 masks on my own from South Korea before the Spring Festival. It was so difficult. I had to plead with ground crews and asked help from passengers on the same flight to each help me carry one box per person," Sun said.

Yican has already invested 2 million yuan for two automated assembly lines combining manufacturing, packing and sterilizing. Each line can produce 100,000 N95 surgical masks every day. All of the company's 30 workers will be responsible for the production of masks for the time being.

Over the past month, Sun has traveled twice to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. The first visit was to place orders and the second was to supervise the alignment of machines. The Zhejiang provincial government has helped a lot. Thanks to their official letter of permission, Yican was able to order the assembly line equipment, Sun added.

As for the company's original businesses, they will gradually resume production in April. But as for surgical masks, Sun said they will continue to produce them at least until the end of this year.

"It is not about money. It is about making joint efforts to help the country at a time of difficulty," he said.