Business is brisk at Mall Karawaci

TANGERANG: Supermal Karawaci, which ceased operations for two years following the May riots in 1998, claims to be recovering and reviving small businesses around it.

Of a total of 370 shops in the mall, 337 have resumed operating, Supermal Karawaci general manager Heru Nasution said.

He added that other tenants were set to open their businesses.

He said the recovery had also improved the welfare of the people around the mall. "They include the motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers, which recently increased to 700 people, and food stall owners."

The 12.5-hectare shopping mall employs about 7,200 workers, most of whom were recruited from its previous 6,000 workers who were left without jobs after the riots. The employed have also increased occupancy rates in rented houses around the mall.

"We also tried to campaign for community services and regain the public's trust," Heru said.

On Sunday the management held a family sports day which around 1,000 participants from neighboring communities enjoyed.

Allocating around 10 percent of its annual revenue to the community, the biggest mall in Southeast Asia has so far granted around 100 scholarships to students in Karawaci. --JP