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)