RI joins Asian retail group

JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Retailers (Aprindo) was officially admitted as a member of the Federation of Asian Retailers Association during the federation's annual meeting in Adelaide, Australia, Wednesday.

The association's executive director, Kustarjono Prodjolalito, said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post yesterday that the meeting participants extended membership to the association because they see it as more dominant than its rival association, the Indonesian Retailers Association (AP3I).

"Many members of AP3I have moved to Aprindo," he said.

Aprindo was formed in 1994 as an alternative to the AP3I by a group of prominent retailers following a dispute on the reelection of J.A. Sinungan as chairman that year.

Aprindo currently has 184 members, including Golden Truly, Hero Supermarket, Pasaraya, Matahari, Dwima, and Cahaya Department Store. (jsk)