T

he Jakarta City Council has asked city-run market operator PD Pasar Jaya to lower rents at the Pasar Santa traditional market, which it says are unattractive to potential tenants.

Council head Prasetio Edi Marsudi said on Friday that the market in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, had big potential, but high rental costs had hampered its development.

“Young people’s efforts to operate small-scale businesses once enlivened the market. Unfortunately, now the market looks bleak again after rental costs increased,” he was quoted as saying by beritajakarta.com.

Prasetio said that sellers at Pasar Santa had reported the snowballing costs to the council.

“Small and medium enterprises are the ones contributing to the market’s growth,” he said.