"I believe in healthy competition among traders, such as the one in Pontianak. Eventually, it is the people who benefit from it. I am against this anti-monopoly," the minister remarked.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita has expressed his optimism that online trading in traditional markets would spur sound competition among vendors, because consumers could access online information on basic goods availability and prices.

The minister cited an online traditional market application developed by Pontianak's mayor as an example. The online information shows data on commodity prices in every market in the city. The public can access the information and find out the best prices offered.

"I believe in healthy competition among traders, such as the one in Pontianak. Eventually, it is the people who benefit from it. I am against this anti-monopoly," the minister remarked.

The Trade Ministry is currently developing an application that could facilitate vendors in traditional markets across Indonesia to offer their products through online services.

The online application for traditional markets is being developed with the cooperation of the Indonesian E-commerce Association (IdEA) and start-up companies.

The minister hoped that the application would be ready for operation this year.

Earlier, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) had called on the Trade Ministry, local administrations, traditional market managers, and relevant stakeholders to develop an online networking system for vendors in traditional markets.

"In addition to developing an offline system, an online ecosystem must be developed, so that the people will have a market place and platform in facing the digital era," Jokowi noted here on Tuesday.

Jokowi inaugurated a traditional market and officially opened the 2019 Working Meeting of the Trade Ministry at the Indonesian Exhibition Convention Hall at Bumi Serpong Damai, Tangerang, Banten Province.

The president admitted to paying weekly visits to traditional markets to check on the supplies and prices of goods.

The head of state revealed that he often received complaints from several vendors about being unable to compete with those engaged in online trading.

"If we fail to respond properly to (the complaints), offline traders would be left behind," he pointed out.

Jokowi called on the local administrations to help vendors in traditional markets to offer their goods via an online system and help improve the packaging.

Traditional markets must be given rights to enter the online trading space, so that they can expand not only nationally but also internationally.

Reporting by Mentari DG, Fardah
Editing by Suharto


Translator: Fardah Assegaf
Editor: Suharto
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