Investors sought to develop Kramat Tunggak<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration hopes to attract new
\ninvestors to develop the 10.4-hectare Kramat Tunggak red-light
\ndistrict in North Jakarta into an integrated business center
\nafter the three initial investors pulled out.<\/p>\n
\"The construction of the business center must go on. We,
\ntherefore, are opening the project to new investors,\" Deputy
\nGovernor of Social Affairs Djailani said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said the city administration might give incentives, such as
\ntax reductions, to investors willing to develop the area.<\/p>\n
\"But we first want to know who are serious bidders,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Djailani said the city administration would not extend the
\ndeadline for the closing down of the brothel complex even though
\nthe initial investors had pulled out.<\/p>\n
\"Temporarily, the brothel complex could be used as a
\nresidential area until the city administration finds new
\ninvestors,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The city administration decided earlier this year to close the
\nKramat Tunggak brothel complex, which is the country's oldest
\ngovernment-authorized red-light district, in December this year.<\/p>\n
The head of the city social services agency, Edi Widodo, said
\non Thursday that the initial investors withdrew from the project
\nbecause they thought it would not turn a profit.<\/p>\n
\"They calculated that the construction of a business center in
\nthe area would not be profitable,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
One of the initial investors, PT Nuansa Jasa Realtindo,
\nreportedly doubted it would earn any profit from the project
\nbecause of the skyrocketing prices of building materials.<\/p>\n
The investor said it also had difficulty obtaining credit from
\nbanks to finance the project.<\/p>\n
Edi said at least 650 prostitutes still worked in the complex,
\nwhile the same number of prostitutes had quit.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the former prostitutes have been employed by several
\nfirms,\" Edi said.<\/p>\n
The complex, located near Tanjung Priok Port in North Jakarta,
\nhas 221 brothels. (jun)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/investors-sought-to-develop-kramat-tunggak-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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