President Jokowi Visits Newly Revitalized Johar Market, Semarang’s Old Town

President Jokowi accompanied by a number of ministers rides a bike around Semarang Old Town, Central Java on Monday (30/12). (Photo: Rahmat/PR)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Monday (30/12) visited the newly-revamped Johar traditional Market and the Old Town area in Central Java provincial capital of Semarang.

The Johar traditional market was razed in a fire in 2015.The Semarang City Government then relocated around 1,500 market vendors to the Semarang Great Mosque area.

In the wake of the fire, the Central Government decided to revitalize the market with the revitalization worth around Rp146 billion.

“The most important thing is to return the vendors to the market immediately, while for those who do not have a kiosk yet, Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing will build more kiosks at the southern part (of the market),” President Jokowi said to reporters, while emphasizing that the vendors should maintain the cleanliness of the market.

After visiting Johar market, the President also  visited Semarang Square and Old Town area, which has just been revitalized in the past two years.

“Now that the revitalization project has been completed, I want it to be able to promote creative economy and creative industry in Semarang as well as in Central Java province,” President Jokowi said.

For the record, the Government allocated Rp170 billion to revitalize the Old Town, which covers an area of 20 hectares.

President Jokowi also expressed hope that the UNESCO’s World Heritage site can become Central Java’s creative hub and a new icon of the province to attract more tourists.

“Do enliven the area with cultural activities, gallery, restaurants or other things that can promote economic development in the region as well as the province,” President Jokowi said. (MAY/JAY/RAH/ES)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas