Carrefour debate like TV drama

Carrefour debate like TV drama

JAKARTA (JP): A City Economy Development Bureau officer stated
on Thursday that Carrefour Hypermarket has violated no regulation
because the business has a legitimate license to operate as a
retailer.

Head of the bureau's market unit, Retno Kumorowati, who
claimed to have been in charge of issuing the permit to the
French company, also asserted that the city administration has
never issued regulations for the location of such a hypermarket
or wholesaler.

"Any retail company can operate in the center of the capital,
because there are no regulations delimiting locations for the
business and Carrefour has a retail license.

There is no reason for city council to question it," Retno
said.

City Council Commission B on Economic Affairs questioned the
license of the giant hypermarket chain as their presence in
strategic locations in the capital poses a major threat to small
retailers.

The commission also questioned the new hypermarket outlet
located on Indonesian Airforce land not zoned for retail
purposes.

"It is true; the land is zoned for offices and not for retail
business. However, Carrefour requested the City Planning Agency
change the land usage to permit retail business before they
occupied the land," Retno said.

"After surveying the area the city planning agency approved
the proposal and expanded the land usage of the location," she
added.

The commission will visit the new Carrefour outlet on Jl. M.T.
Haryono in South Jakarta next Tuesday for further clarification
about the matter.

Carrefour opened its first outlet in 1998 and now operates
seven outlets, mostly in strategic locations in the capital.

As of Thursday none of the representatives of Carrefour were
willing to give any clarification on the issue. (dja)