Revitalizing traditional markets is an important program because its benefit can directly be felt by the public.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government plans to revitalize hundreds of traditional markets in the country to allow them to function more optimally, an official said.
To that end, the government would propose revitalization funds in the revised 2011 state budget, assistant for marketing and business networks to the cooperatives, small and medium businesses minister Neddy Rafinaldi Halim said here on Thursday.
"Revitalizing traditional markets is an important program because its benefit can directly be felt by the public," he said.
He said the ministry was also looking into the possibility of finding other funding sources than the state budget to revitalize more traditional markets in the country.
The 2011 state budget only allocated funds for development and revitalization of six traditional markets, he said.
The traditional markets consisted of two markets in backward or remote areas and four markets in disaster-hit areas, namely Sleman (Yogyakarta), Magelang (Central Java), Wasior (Papua), and Mentawai (West Sumatra), he said.
"We will give priority to revitalization of two more traditional markets in remote areas using the ministry`s regular funds. The two markets are located in Praya, Central Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara) and Kayong Utara (West Kalimantan)," he said.
He expected at least 200 traditional markets could be revitalized under the revised 2011 state budget.
The revitalization of the traditional markets would cost an estimated Rp1 billion each, he said.
"Soon after the traditional markets have been revitalized the management of the markets will be handed over to cooperatives whose members are traders at the markets," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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