Glodok Plaza to reopen in July 2001

Glodok Plaza to reopen in July 2001

JAKARTA (JP): Glodok Plaza, the biggest and most popular
electronics and computer shopping center in the capital before
being gutted in the May 1998 riots, is slated to reopened in July
next year.

Johannes Suriadjaya, president director of PT Multi Plaza
Properties which owns and manages the building, said on Thursday
that the rebuilding of the shopping center was almost completed.

"The rebuilding of Glodok Plaza has cost Rp 150 billion, with
Rp 115 billion of the amount covered by insurance," Johannes said
during a press conference to announce the beginning of the
building's marketing launch.

The shopping center, located behind Harco Glodok electronics
shopping center on Jl. Pinangsia Raya in Central Jakarta, was one
of many buildings in the capital destroyed by mobs during the
1998 riots.

Glodok Plaza, which opened to the public for the first time in
April 1976 as a six-story building with 739 shops covering 58,094
square meters, was previously ravaged by fire on April 12, 1983.

The building was reopened in April 1987 but was destroyed
again in the 1998 unrest.

According to Johannes, the shopping center would be the first
cyber mall in the country since all shops would be equipped with
cybernetic facilities.

Johannes also said tenants would be provided with intranet
network capability so that the tenants could access information,
especially information related to businesses in the shopping
plaza.

"Tenants will also be able to reach a wider market because
customers will be able to order items via the Internet," Johannes
said, adding that the order-via-the-Internet facility would be
fully functional at the end of next year.

Glodok Plaza's general manager Daniel Yuwono said the
management was sure that tenants would be enthusiastic about
using the cybernetic facilities to promote and sell their items.

"We know that they used to do trade in the traditional way
which requires bargaining, but if public demands are high through
the Internet, which require fixed prices, I think they will apply
fixed prices over the Internet," Daniel said.

Johannes said the company had allocated US$2 million for the
cyber facility installation and website development.

Daniel said the cost of the cybernetic facilities would be
included in the rental fees.

The shops are being offered for between $35 and $90 per square
meter per month with a fixed rupiah exchange rate of Rp 3,500.

Daniel said that Glodok Plaza had 410 shops on its five floors
ranging between 18 and 600 square meters each while the rental
fees depended on what floor the shop was on and its location.

Johannes said that 50 percent of the shops had already been
booked by tenants.

"Some business owners who have paid for the shops are former
tenants of the building," Johannes said.(jaw)