COVID-19 crisis: Businesses answer call to arms to help fight coronavirus

Since NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian called for businesses to help supply vital medical equipment including PPE, face masks and hand sanitiser one month ago, more than 1800 businesses have registered to help.

NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was "fair to say that the response from NSW industry has been nothing short of outstanding".

"We've seen businesses across our state who have strong connections to international supply chains go into the portal and we've been able to use those connections to shore up our own international supply," he said.

"We've also seen hundreds of NSW businesses come to us with a capacity to supply equipment, PPE, hand sanitiser, paper based products into the system.

"We've been able to refer those though to our health teams to make sure that every single one of those products that can be supplied meets our strict health standards."

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said many regional areas in NSW had already been impacted by drought and bushfires and businesses and small communities were "on their knees".

"One of the best ways we can support our regions is of course supporting business through this procurement of producing or supplying PPE during this crisis," he said.

"That call out has seen more than 20 per cent of those businesses from regional NSW come to the table.

"It shows that we are resilient in regional NSW, but we're also innovative.

"We know if the regions if you empower our businesses, you empower local communities you build prosperity."

Ms Berejiklian praised those businesses which have registered to help and assured the community the government now had the prospect of accessing vital medical supplies and establishing supply chains which will even exist beyond COVID-19.

"You might have a bed, you might have a ventilator, but unless you have the PPE that vital equipment that keeps our health workers safe you can't really make sure you're treating the virus well," she said.

Industry and community groups are now able to access the same list of businesses that have registered with the government at https://buy.nsw.gov.au/.

"We know that there are lots of community groups, we know that there are lots of businesses that are also looking to access masks, hand sanitiser, soaps and disinfectants," Mr Ayres said.

The portal for businesses to register their products with the NSW Government remains open at nsw.gov.au.