Melbourne, Jakarta unite for market revitalization
Melbourne, Jakarta unite for market revitalization
JAKARTA (JP): Executives of Australia's Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) and city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday to revitalize Kramat Jati wholesale market in East Jakarta.
The MOU, signed by market authority chairman Jeremy Gaylard and PD Pasar Jaya director Syahrir Tanjung, covers eight points, including the system of management and the development of human resources.
Witnessed by Deputy Governor for Development Affairs Budihardjo Sukmadi and Victorian Government Business Office executive director Phillip Morrey, the signing ceremony at Aryaduta Hotel in Central Jakarta was also attended by scores of high-ranking city officials.
After the ceremony, Gaylard said under the revitalization agreement, MMA would merely act as a consultant.
He said MMA would share its experience in food safety and waste management, two major issues which must be addressed by wholesale markets.
"The first thing PD Pasar Jaya should do is form some committees, like retailers, tenants and growers, so that PD Pasar Jaya will know the associations to talk to, because it's a wholesale market not a retail market," he said.
Gaylard said another step in the revitalization process was the formulation of a business plan of action. He said this issue would soon be discussed.
He suggested PD Pasar Jaya not run the market 24 hours a day, as is the current practice.
"You can't be successful operating a market 24 hours a day because there is no time to clean the area. However, I can understand when people reason that it is (better to operate around the clock) because there is not enough parking in the market," he said.
That is why the city needs more than one wholesale market, Gaylard said.
He also said the Kramat Jati market needed to be renovated and needed better access to transportation.
World Union
Gaylard also said he would champion Indonesia's inclusion in the World Union of Wholesale Markets, which currently has 55 members.
As a member of the union, Indonesia could learn various aspects of wholesale market management from other countries, including how to forecast the future of the industry and analyze events effecting the industry, he said.
It would also "give Indonesia technical knowledge of wholesale market management", he said.
Syahrir said the Kramat Jati market would be further improved if it had an integrated distribution system for horticultural exports.
"As the gateway for fruit and vegetable imports and exports, Jakarta needs a proper place to fulfill food safety requirements. Kramat Jati has such a potential, but we have not yet empowered the market," he said.
He said MMA had been chosen as the consultant because of its success in managing markets in Australia.
"It's also possible that they can become investors in the market, which is scheduled to be renovated soon," Syahrir offered.
However, Gaylard said MMA would maintain its role as a consultant only.
Syahrir said the market's renovation would not only include physical work, but would also entail improving the mentality of both traders and buyers. This effort would include promoting the habit of keeping the market clean.
The 14.7-hectare Kramat Jati market is the sole distribution center for fruits and vegetables coming from areas outside the capital, mostly from Sumatra, West, Central and East Java.
The merchandise is then distributed to 151 traditional markets across the city.
The signing ceremony was followed by a seminar on market revitalization.
Phillip Morrey said the memorandum of understanding was a vehicle for improving the business relationship between Australia and Indonesia.
"The benefit for our country is that Australian companies can export more technology and agribusiness equipment, while at the same time we can help Indonesia develop its agribusiness industry," he said.(ind)