Arriving at the market at around 8:10 a.m. local time, the president, popularly nicknamed Jokowi, received a warm and cheerful welcome from merchants and buyers, several of whom sought Jokowi`s favor to shake hands with him.
During his visit to the market, located some 154 kilometers southwest of Surabaya, the capital city of East Java Province, the president approached several kiosks and spoke to the traders.
President Jokowi visited kioks selling rice and chicken, among others. He also bought two kilograms of rice and five kilograms of chicken meat.
A merchant named Sukri said a kilogram of chicken meat cost Rp31,000.
"The price has gone down," he stated.
During his visit to the wholesale market, Jokowi was accompanied by East Java Governor Soekarwo and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung.
Jokowi, aspiring to be reelected in this year`s presidential election, always visits traditional and wholesale markets to witness first-hand the prices of staple foods. Last year, he had visited a traditional market in Bogor, West Java Province.
Visiting markets for observing the prices of basic commodities and conversing with local traders is in connection with economic issues over which the incumbent president and his competitor for the 2019 Presidential Election have expressed significant concern.
The same strategy has also been applied by Vice Presidential Candidate Sandiaga Uno. He had also paid a visit to several traditional markets and spoken to local traders during his trips to different parts of Indonesia in the wake of the presidential election.
Uno said he believes Indonesia is capable of achieving economic independence, as it has an abundance of natural resources and workforce, with a potential demographic bonus in 2020 as well as a big market.
"I believe that Indonesia may become economically self-sufficient by boosting national production and restricting imports of materials that can be produced in the country," he told representatives of community members of Wonosobo District, Central Java, last year.
Despite Indonesia`s huge potential to become a self-sufficient economy, Uno, running mate of Chief Patron of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) Prabowo Subianto for next year`s presidential race, said he was saddened to see the condition of Indonesia`s economy.
"I am so sad to see our economic condition. Why has it yet to be able to make our people prosperous? Instead, our economy is getting harder, with debt burdens," he told attendees at the gathering, mostly comprising married women and millennials.
Reporting by Agus Salim, Rahmad Nasution
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
