Old markets threatened

Old markets threatened

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's traditional markets would not lose
consumers if rules on the distance between traditional and modern
markets were followed, an official said yesterday.

Lihardin Sipayung from the city-owned market company, PD Pasar
Jaya, said many modern markets were too close to traditional
markets.

He declined to give examples.

Lihardin was referring to statements by his director, Albert
Napitupulu, in a recent discussion on traditional markets.

Albert said modern shopping centers threatened the existence
of traditional markets.

Lihardin supported Albert's suggestion of setting up
traditional markets near low-cost apartments.

Another measure would be to "anticipate competition" and
enforce rules, he said.

The city rules traditional markets should be at least 500
meters from supermarkets or shopping centers in areas categorized
as advanced.

In developing areas the distance must be a kilometer and 1,500
metres in the least advanced areas.

Lihardin would not blame any party but said the city's
Economic Promotion Board and mayoralties were the supervising
authorities.

Modern markets have grown rapidly since the 1970s.

A recent study by property consultant First Pacific Davies
predicts city shopping areas would reach 1.1 million square
meters by the end of the year.

Next year shopping space would increase 169,200 square meters
and 243,000 square meters in 1998, the study predicted.

Napitupulu said the government had to pay more attention to
small traditional market traders because of this.

Big traders had direct access to their producers so they could
sell goods cheaply while small traders had to face long
distributions chain before getting their goods, he said.

There are 150 traditional markets in Jakarta hosting about
80,000 traders.

Albert said one way to stop traditional markets becoming
extinct was to help them adjust to the changing markets.

He said traders needed to improve their knowledge and access
to information and investment. Their relationship with producers
and retailers also needed improvement, Albert said.

"The municipality can become a mediator to connect the traders
with the industry, so they can get goods for affordable prices,"
he said.

Lihardin said the market company must also improve traditional
markets by cleaning them and making them more attractive.

"No one would come to a market swarmed with flies from the
trash everywhere, when they can go to a nearby shopping plaza
which sells items for a little more," Lihardin said. (02/anr)