Ramayana resumes business in Cengkareng

Ramayana resumes business in Cengkareng

JAKARTA (JP): Retail chain company PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa
Tbk. reopened over the weekend one of its department stores which
was burned and looted during the May 1998 unrest.

The 8,828-square-meter store, located in the newly rebuilt
Cengkareng Plaza in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, is the third
Ramayana store to resume operation in the past two months.

Business in the area seems to have returned to normal, with
various fast food outlets, a recreation center and a number of
stores resuming operations along with Ramayana department store.

Ramayana corporate secretary Hardjanto Salim said the company
suffered an Rp 80 billion (US$11.9 million) loss after 12 of its
stores in Jakarta and neighboring towns of Bogor, Tangerang and
Bekasi were destroyed during last year's unrest.

On July 31, Ramayana reopened two of its stores in Tanjung
Priok in North Jakarta and in Cimone, Tanggerang.

"We are planning to reopen three more stores next year,"
Hardjanto said.

He said the only extra security measure the company would take
in anticipation of future unrest was the recruitment of local
civil defense (Hansip) members.

Hundreds of locals, most arriving in groups, packed Cengkareng
Plaza on Friday.

"I am happy with the reopening of the department store. It's
the only shopping center in this area," Wahdidi, one shopper,
said.

The reopening ceremony on Friday, attended by West Jakarta
Mayor Sarimun Hadisaputra, featured Jakartan comedian Mandra. The
company also offered discounts and free samples of products
during the event.

The company's spokesman, Alan Kamal, said business had not yet
reached its optimum level.

"Profits will still be small. We need to cooperate with our
suppliers for a joint promotion program in a bid to boost our
sales," he said.

According to Alan, the promotion will feature well-known
products from top suppliers, such as PT Unilever.

"In our experience, also involving celebrities in promotion
programs attracts more people to come and buy," he said. (03)