Govt told to build trade centers to support local small businesses

The Bali government should build a trade center to showcase the wares of local artisans, artists and small-scale manufacturers to give them an edge against larger businesses, according to an industry figure.

Aloysius Purwa, chairman of the Bali chapter of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (ASITA), said the development of several large stores selling Balinese souvenirs such as handicrafts, textiles, garments, wood products, herbs, and paintings threatened the existence of traditional art markets like Sukawati in Gianyar regency and Kumbasari in Badung regency.

“This condition is the direct effect of the free trade scheme promoted by the government, which allows big capital to control the island’s entire economic activity. This scheme hurts small-scale artisans and diminishes the roles of the traditional markets that promote their work,” Purwa said.

A host of convenience stores have opened on the way to Ngurah Rai International Airport in recent years, offering items similar to those on sale at traditional art markets.

The difference was in the new stores’ strategic locations, spacious parking lots and fixed prices.

“You don’t have to go a long way to Sukawati when you want to buy souvenir, as everything you need is sold at those stores. But the government does not realize that this condition has kept visitors away from traditional markets,” he added.

The idea to build a trade center for small-scale businesses has been around for about 15 years, he said.

“The government has always turned a deaf ear and issued policies that favored businesses with large amounts of capital.”

Made Westra, director of PD Pasar Jaya in Denpasar, said that fewer visitors were coming to Kumbasari market. “In the past, thousands of people came to the market to buy various souvenirs at a discount.”

Nengah Nama Artawa, head of the Sukawati traditional art market, agreed, saying many visitors were reluctant to shop at the market because of crowded parking lots, hot and dirty conditions and unfriendly traders.

“Under Gianyar Regent Cokorda Oka Artha Ardana, we have renovated the market into a modern trade center. The management system was also upgraded to match a system adopted by shopping centers,” Artawa said.

Separately, Wayan Geriya, an anthropologist from Udayana University in Denpasar, said a flood of capital was not the only problem.

“Bali has to improve itself. A lack of infrastructure, security issues and behavior have been the major obstacles in making traditional art markets look attractive and welcoming to both domestic and international visitors,” Geriya said.

The government and the private sectors should involve small businesses when establishing a trade market.

“The concept of a trade center must favor the island’s local artisans and small-scale art producers.”