Rawa Belong to become modern flower market
BANGKOK (JP): The private sector is interested in changing the traditional flower market in Rawa Belong, West Jakarta, into a modern flower supermarket where products from all over the country will be displayed and sold, an executive said.
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) city- branch representative Gerda Sumampouw said Tuesday that negotiations were still occurring between Kadin city members and municipality officials on the flower market's expansion.
Gerda made the remarks at a one-day seminar on Thai investment opportunities in Indonesia, attended by representatives of Kadin and their Thai counterparts.
Gerda, who heads the City Agriculture and Plantation Department, said negotiations involved how to implement the expansion project and who should manage it.
"Rawa Belong flower market should be the national showcase of the best products of the provinces," she said.
She cited Governor Surjadi Soedirdja at the opening of the Great Sales event in June, that Jakarta was expected to become "a city of orchids and jasmine" in the near future.
President director of PT FLorasari Agroteknindo, Noes Sudiono, said the idea of improving Rawa Belong flower market was first proposed by private investors during former governor Soeprapto's office term from 1982 to 1987.
At that time about 100 flower producers welcomed the idea, Noes said. "We went in and out of the countryside" to talk with producers, she said.
However, at that time, the municipality seemed reluctant about private investors having a leading role in the project.
She said conditions have now changed. "Now it's the city that has approached us," she said.
People who frequently shop at Rawa Belong include housewives, florists and caterers.
The market, opened by former governor Wiyogo Atmodarminto on July 25, 1989, was built with Rp 652 million (US$280,000) of investment.
Like other small-scale retail markets in the city, vendors begin setting up their stalls at the 11,295-square-meter market in the wee hours of the morning. They are open for business by 2 a.m., two hours after flowers are delivered by suppliers.
Many of the flowers come from Bogor, Tangerang and Bandung, all in West Java. Jasmine and sedap malam come from Tegal and Ambarawa in Central Java.
The vendors operate 72 kiosks at the market until about 8 a.m., offering flowers, ranging from those grown in mountain areas, such as roses, gladiolas, marigolds and aster, to orchids, golden shower, cattleya, chrysanthemums and dendrobium.
The market is usually very busy on major holidays, such as Idul Fitri and Christmas. (anr)