Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government will organize bazaars in various parts of the country to give a chance to low-income people to enjoy various basic necessities at relatively low prices during the fasting month, a minister said.

"Bazaars are expected to reduce the burden of low-income people," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said here on Tuesday.

She said the bazaars would be organized together with the central and regional governments in various regions in the country.

"We even have a proposal from an East Java region to set up a kind of `Ramadhan village` there so that the sale of low-priced basic necessities could be held there during the fasting month," she said.

The minister said that the demand for various basic necessities usually increased by about 20 percent in the run-up to the post-fasting Idul Fitri festivities or Lebaran.

She said that her ministry would also coordinate with the ministry of transportation to monitor the distribution of basic commodities to various regions.

The coordination is aimed at ensuring that damage to a number of access roads for the smooth of goods distribution would be improved, Mari said.

On the occasion, the minister also assured that the people did not to worry about food supplies because stocks of rice and various food commodities were sufficient for consumers during the fasting month and the Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities.

Besides, the government will also set up a command post to monitor the developments of food stocks and prices in various parts of the country.

The minister said that the government was also ready to conduct market operations in various regions where commodity prices were on the rise exceeding 10 percent.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/H-YH)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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