President Jokowi Visits Traditional Markets in NTB and Papua

President Jokowi visits Pharaa Traditional Market in Sentani, Papua (30/4)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Friday (29/4) began his two-day working visit to West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province and Papua Province (29-30/4) focused on revitalizing traditional markets.

President Jokowi inaugurated Amahami Market in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara Province (29/4), led a groundbreaking ceremony of Mama-Mama Cultural Market in Jayapura Papua, visited Pharaa Market in Sentani, Papua and inaugurated Doyo Baru Market in Sentani, Papua (30/4).

“My visits this time are indeed focused on the issue of development and revitalization of traditional markets,” President Jokowi told reporters during the visit to Pharaa traditional market in Sentani, Jayapura (30/4).

On that occasion, President Jokowi emphasized that revitalization of traditional markets aims not only to address physical problems but also managerial issues, including accountability and financial management.

“I suppose improvement of management, capital, and related matters are what we need,” President Jokowi said.

President Jokowi added that with capitals provided by Smallholder Business Credit (KUR) program whose interest is only 9 percent, banks will assist traders in traditional markets in improving their management.

“The management is simple: cash flow must always be available. Once you have borrowed money from the banks, through KUR program, cash flow must always be available. You must have profits,” President Jokowi said, adding that simple management must be made so that traders can have access to bank services.

President Jokowi also said that there is a synergy between the Central Government and regional governments in revitalizing traditional markets.

“The regions have the lands. The Central Government, which in this case state-owned enterprises, develop traditional markets. And it is governors and regents who are in charge of managing traders and other aspects,” President Jokowi concluded.

Joining the President during the visit were Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, Minister of State-owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, and Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki. (BPMI/UN) (Naster/YM/EP)