"We are first seeking the location, and then study its business strategy," Corporate Affairs Director of Carrfour RM. Adji Srihandoyo said here on Wednesday.
Carrefour is a company operating in international supermarkets based in France. Adji said 40 pct of the company`s shares belonged to Indonesian investors.
Now Carrefour has 82 outlets in Indonesia, while in Sumatra it has only three namely in Medan and Palembang.
"We are very prudential in expanding the business," he said.
However, Adji said it cannot as yet openly explain the expansion plan in Pekanbaru. He said the current visit of the Carrefour management is only a friendship visit to the Riau provincial administration.
"Our visit has no specific agenda, but there will be when the right time comes because Pekanbaru is said to have a high retail business growth like Lotte Mart, Giant, and Hypermart, which is our main consideration," he said.
Head of External Communication and Corporate Social Responsibility Division of Carrefour Hendrik Adrianto said the result of the meeting with the Riau provincial administration shows that the regional administration gave a good response if the company made an investment in Pekanbaru.
"The result of the meeting is the support of Assistant I of the Riau provincial administration to Carrefour to open a supermarket in Pekanbaru," he said.
He said the target of the development of outlets needs to be adjusted to the purchasing power of the people. Riau is known for its high economic growth exceeding the national level.
"This is a plus point because we are after the market of the developing economy of the people," he said.
However, he said, the company will stick to the existing legal regulations in expanding its business. Basically, the company needs to have a license from the provincial administration and from the regency and city administrations before conducting its business.
"There is an expansion team to check the worthiness of a big investment and if there is a potential in Sumatra why not," he said. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
