Thursday, 4 July 2013

GOVERNMENT READY TO HELP TRADITIONAL MARKET REVITALIZATION




Revitalization of traditional markets which will continue to be done by the government is believed to boost the economy and strengthen competitiveness of traders against modern markets. Revitalization of traditional markets will continue to be done with the hope of improving the economy, and traders will be able to complete with modern markets. To that end, traditional market managers are required to maintain cleanliness of traditional markets, while traders should also take care of the environment in which they sell their goods.
               
It must be admitted that the negative image is still attached to traditional markets, such as slouchy, grungy, muddy, and unsafe (many pickpockets and thugs). To that end, market restructuring program is a must, which aims to modernize the traditional markets. Traditional market management should be changed by adopting modern market management. In this case, there needs to be clear governance in the management of markets. To achieve that goal, the government through the Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are committed to revitalize traditional markets.
               
Deputy for Marketing and Business Networks at the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, Neddy Rafinaldi Halim, in Jakarta on Friday [4/26], explained that as much as 203 traditional markets are being revitalized in 2013 through social assistance programs of the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs. Rafinaldi expressed readiness to provide assistance to traditional markets. However, he requires each region that wants to revitalize traditional markets to prepare the land designed for traditional market, and above all free from dispute. Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs will help the development and revitalization of traditional markets proposed by the local government. “We are committed to help each point with approximately Rp90 million”, he said.
               
Rafinaldi explained that market that has been revitalized using the Ministry’s budget must be managed by cooperatives whose members consist of market traders who operate it. From these funds, he estimated that the capacity of each market will range from 80 to 100 traders. He considered that the market to be revitalized is very beneficial for improving the competitiveness of traditional markets and facilitate the emergence of a quality product of the rural community. He also hopes that traditional markets can be organized in a strong marketing network so as to form a retail market network favorable to market traders and SMEs.
               
Furthermore, Rafinaldi said that revamping the traditional markets requires regulation and guidance that is both integrative and comprehensive. Revamping as is often done by almost all local governments is still limited to the building. Whereas, physical remodeling does not necessarily create a comfortable and clean traditional market. Rafinaldi sees that three or four years after the renovation, the market still looks clean, but then it will look shabby again with messy conditions, both outside and inside. The most serious situation is when the market is abandoned by traders due to decrease in the number of consumers even after the market was renovated.

The most important thing in the revamping of the traditional market, according to him, is the improvement of traditional market management. This is more difficult, but it more ensures the creation of a clean and comfortable traditional market. Revamping starts from the downstream, namely market management as well as coaching of traders. Government policy in regulating and development of traditional markets determines the level of success. The policy is in the form of regulations, such as regional regulations, as the governing law. The realizations are, among others, designation of the role of traditional markets in the economy, management of traders, as well as forms of market development and management organizations. (E)   

Business News - May 01,2013 

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