Traditional market is not yet ready for free-trade era
Berita Jakarta.com | 14 January 2010
Traditional market is not yet ready for free-trade era
Traders, particularly those in traditional markets, seemingly have not been ready to join competition in the era of ASEAN-China free trade starting this year, which is marked with the rampant distribution of Chinese products in domestic market.
Head of Association of Indonesian Traditional Market Traders (APPSI) of Jakarta chapter, Hasan Basri said with their (Chinese products) very affordable prices, it would be quite difficult for traders at traditional markets to compete. Therefore, Jakarta APPSI has asked the city government to delay the implementation of the free trade.
“Such a condition will incur the drop in the profit earned by small traders,” said Hasan Basri on the sidelines of the celebration of the 43rd anniversary of PD Pasar Jaya at Kramatjati main market, East Jakarta, Thursday (1/14).
Hasan Basri revealed that one of the imported products having high competitiveness in domestic market was instant noodle.
“ASEAN-China free trade is an inhuman and immoral trade. I ask the administration to provide policies as well as facilities for small business players to obtain permits and loan, so that they can survive, "said Hasan.
He also noted that this free trade era would result in increasing unemployment rate in Jakarta since one third of entrepreneurs in the capital are micro-small business players. Hasan also underlined that the free trade was a kind of massacre of local products.
Meanwhile, President Director of PD Pasar Jaya, Djangga Lubis said he was not too worried with ASEAN-China free trade. “We must be able to survive amid the influx of lots of Chinese products into Jakarta,” he said, adding that one of the strategies is PD Pasar Jaya will improve the quality of traditional markets including the physical aspect.
Translator: halim
