City market operator PD Pasar Jaya spokesperson Nur Havidz said the gems center was part of the city’s efforts to promote its specialized markets.  

“This is one of our strategies to maintain traditional markets amidst tight competition with modern shopping centers,” Nur told The Jakarta Post recently.

Nur also said the renovation of the gems market was part of a two-year revitalization program.

Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo is slated to officially open the center in May.

The new market is built on the site of the old Rawa Bening market, opposite Jatinegara train station, which was known as a center for jewels, gemstones and other artifacts.

The new four-story building stands out from its surroundings with its fresh coat of paint and gem-like decorations on its walls.

The renovation program commenced in 2008 and the building was ready last year.

Gem traders been doing business in the new market since two months ago.

Commenting on the new look, a frequent visitor, Sunanti, 40, said she was pleased with the air-conditioned market, because it gave her more space to shop.

“It is cleaner and less chaotic than it used to be,” she said.

Established in 1974, Rawa Bening market was widely known as a center for jewels and gemstones, but visitors could also find medicines, foodstuffs, textiles and various other products there.

Just like the old Rawa Bening market (although it has now been renamed “Jakarta Gems Center”) the new market also caters to vendors of other merchandise including medicines, accessories, textiles and shoes.  

Most kiosks on the second floor of the new market sell pharmaceutical items.

Pasar Jaya says diversification was intended to meet all customers’ needs.

“[Customers] may need other things besides gems,” market operator representative Lukman Hakim said.

Despite being criticized for losing focus, the market management has also received complaints from old sellers who claim their revenues have declined since moving into the new building.

“More traders come to this place and the competition has become fiercer,” Wawan, a trader, said.

Old traders comprise around 70 percent of the total 900 tenants in the new building. The remaining 30 percent are new tenants, from other areas.

In 2008, there were a total of 784 vendors at Rawa Bening.

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