The Kewapante market was being developed into a traditional market pilot project, Trade Minister Mari E Pangestu said in a press statement received by ANTARA News here, Sunday.
The trade ministry will support local traders and the market`s manager for three years, until 2013.
Minister Pangestu when visiting Sikka District, last Saturday (July 2) said strong commitment and hard work were needed to make the program implementation successful.
The 2.5 ha-large Kewapante market which was established in 1974, is currently accommodating around 800 traders and being managed by 20 people.
The market needs a major renovation as it has not had adequate space to accommodate traders properly. Due to lack of rooms, some traders have been forced to sell their products in the pavement.
The renovation works will include several kiosk construction, , pavement for pedestrians, drainage and electrical mechanical facilities.
Kewapante was the tenth traditional market visited by Trade Minister Pangestu, after the nine others, namely Pangururan in Samosir (North Sumatra), Lambocca in Bantaeng and Pattalassang in Takalar (South Sulawesi), Grabag in Purworejo and Cokro Kembang in Klaten (Central Java), Minulyo in Pacitan (East Java), Agung in Denpasar (Bali), Panorama in Bengkulu, and Skow in Jayapura (Papua Province).
During his stay in NTT, the minister also visited Mota Ain traditional market in Atambua, Belu, near the border of Indonesia and Timor Leste.
The Mota Ain traditional market has not been included in the pilot project program this year, but it might be in the future.
Minister Pangestu also visited a traditional woven clothe center at Nita village and symbolically presented non-machine woven spinners for nine villages in Sikka.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
