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Traditional markets can compete with supermarkets: Jokowi
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Warm welcome – A local resident greets President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in his visit to the Manis Market in Purwokerto, Banyumas regency, Central Java, on Wednesday. The President chatted with vendors in the market after he inaugurated the traditional market, which is one of the markets revitalized under the government’s 1,000 Indonesian traditional markets revitalization program. (thejakartapost.com/Agus Maryono)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said traditional markets can compete with supermarkets or other modern markets, especially on the prices of goods they sell.
He said the prices of goods distributed in traditional markets could be much cheaper than those sold in supermarkets because vendors in traditional markets did not have to pay high taxes. They also did not have to spend a lot of money to pay electricity fees.
“Serve your customers as well as possible and keep smiling. The prices of all goods sold here must be cheaper than the ones in modern markets so that our market will not be inferior to malls, not inferior to supermarkets,” said President Jokowi.
He made the statement during his dialogue with vendors at the Manis Market, a traditional market in Purwokerto, Banyumas regency, Central Java, on Wednesday. The President visited Purwokerto to inaugurate the newly revitalized market, which is part of the government’s 1,000 Indonesian traditional markets revitalization program.
Trade Minister Thomas Trikasih Lembong and State Secretary Pratikno accompanied President Jokowi on the visit.
In the dialogue, President Jokowi called on the market’s vendors who wanted to develop their businesses to take advantage of the low-interest people’s credit (KUR) program channeled by the government through a number of state banks.
“Ma’am, what places do you often go to when you need capital? If you need loans, please go to state-lender BRI or BNI. Please remember that if you need loans, just get KUR. Its rate is only 9 percent annually,” said Jokowi.
“I hope you can watch over this market so it can stay clean. Please maintain it. Don’t let this place become polluted with garbage. Let’s watch over this market together,” said Jokowi. (ebf)
