"All the funds would be drawn from the 2015 budget," he said during a visit to the Lebak district in the Banten province in West Java here on Thursday.
He said the market places to be revitalized were those in the backward regions, including Lebak.
He said traditional markets could help the economic growth of the people because these could accommodate agricultural and plantation based products.
"We believe people would feel the impact of the revitalization efforts directly as these will support them economically," he said.
He said one of the aims of the program was to increase the income of traders and other economic players in the community as well as allow easier access for buying and selling activities by improving conditions at the market places.
The minister said that the revitalization program would not only cover means and facilities but also market management.
He said traditional markets are not merely locations for trading but also act as distribution centers for strategic products. Thus, these could be used to keep prices in check and control inflation.
"I think the (traditional) markets could be used to control prices and assure a stable supply of goods through better price and distribution management," he said.
Minister Thomas was accompanied by the presidential advisory council member, Rusdi Kirana.
Lebak district head Wawan Ruswandi hailed the visit and believed it would have a positive impact on market revitalization in the region.
He said many traditional markets in the region were not in a good condition. If the local government is entrusted with the responsibility to improve them, it would become an unbearable burden. Therefore, "we hope the minister would help in the efforts," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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