Sandiaga made the promise following the city administration's decision to provide PD Dharma Jaya with Rp 39 billion (US$ 2.8 million) in capital injection, kompas.com reported on Thursday.

Earlier, Dharma Jaya president director Marina Ratna Dwi Kusumadjati had criticized the city's budget team for failing to explain to Anies and Sandiaga that the company needed the PSO to finance its meat subsidy.

“We will meet the PSO request, regardless of how much [Dharma Jaya] asks for,” Sandiaga said on Thursday at City Hall, adding that he would ensure a speedy administrative process.

Sandiaga said that the city's Fisheries, Agriculture and Food Security Agency would approve the company's business plan when it was submitted.

Once the plan had been approved, the Jakarta Financial Management Body would give the money to Dharma Jaya, he said, and that the company would not need to take out a loan from Bank DKI to finance the subsidized meat program.

Since February, Jakarta Smart Card holders, Public Facility Maintenance Agency workers and Rusunawa residents have been able to buy beef at Rp 35,000 per kilogram, far below the market price of Rp 85,000 per kilogram.

They can also buy chicken meat for Rp 10,000 per kilogram at outlets managed by Jakarta-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya. (cal)

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