Old markets threatened<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's traditional markets would not lose
\nconsumers if rules on the distance between traditional and modern
\nmarkets were followed, an official said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Lihardin Sipayung from the city-owned market company, PD Pasar
\nJaya, said many modern markets were too close to traditional
\nmarkets.<\/p>\n
He declined to give examples.<\/p>\n
Lihardin was referring to statements by his director, Albert
\nNapitupulu, in a recent discussion on traditional markets.<\/p>\n
Albert said modern shopping centers threatened the existence
\nof traditional markets.<\/p>\n
Lihardin supported Albert's suggestion of setting up
\ntraditional markets near low-cost apartments.<\/p>\n
Another measure would be to "anticipate competition" and
\nenforce rules, he said.<\/p>\n
The city rules traditional markets should be at least 500
\nmeters from supermarkets or shopping centers in areas categorized
\nas advanced.<\/p>\n
In developing areas the distance must be a kilometer and 1,500
\nmetres in the least advanced areas.<\/p>\n
Lihardin would not blame any party but said the city's
\nEconomic Promotion Board and mayoralties were the supervising
\nauthorities.<\/p>\n
Modern markets have grown rapidly since the 1970s.<\/p>\n
A recent study by property consultant First Pacific Davies
\npredicts city shopping areas would reach 1.1 million square
\nmeters by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Next year shopping space would increase 169,200 square meters
\nand 243,000 square meters in 1998, the study predicted.<\/p>\n
Napitupulu said the government had to pay more attention to
\nsmall traditional market traders because of this.<\/p>\n
Big traders had direct access to their producers so they could
\nsell goods cheaply while small traders had to face long
\ndistributions chain before getting their goods, he said.<\/p>\n
There are 150 traditional markets in Jakarta hosting about
\n80,000 traders.<\/p>\n
Albert said one way to stop traditional markets becoming
\nextinct was to help them adjust to the changing markets.<\/p>\n
He said traders needed to improve their knowledge and access
\nto information and investment. Their relationship with producers
\nand retailers also needed improvement, Albert said.<\/p>\n
"The municipality can become a mediator to connect the traders
\nwith the industry, so they can get goods for affordable prices,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Lihardin said the market company must also improve traditional
\nmarkets by cleaning them and making them more attractive.<\/p>\n
"No one would come to a market swarmed with flies from the
\ntrash everywhere, when they can go to a nearby shopping plaza
\nwhich sells items for a little more," Lihardin said. (02\/anr)<\/p>",
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