VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan on Wednesday took suggestions on renovating the traditional market in Bakauheni, South Lampung, Lampung province, from locals and regional government representatives.

"This visit can become an effort to pursue coordination so there will be an arrangement of the market, just like what has been done to Natar market," the minister said in South Lampung.

He further said that he welcomed the many suggestions made by the people and regional government officials on improving the market in South Lampung district.

"Please, regional government, do send (the requests) to the Trade Ministry, and the central government will facilitate the suggestion as per the applicable regulation," he added.

The effort to revitalize the market is aimed at creating a conducive situation so as to allow a more comfortable shopping experience, he said.

"The market is considered as a tourist place. If the tourism is good, so is the port, hence market arrangement must be good, too, so that buyers will keep crowding and coming, and tourists can shop here," he explained.

Meanwhile, the village chief of Bakauheni, Bakauheni sub-district, Sukirno, said that there are two traditional markets in the area.

"One is private-owned, Pasar Siger, spanning one hectare with 200 kiosks. Whereas Bakauheni market is owned by the regional government, spanning 18 thousand square meters, and 150 kiosks; however, there are only 20 units (of kiosks in use currently), so (we) need assistance to make it more lively," he informed.

He said that government aid is necessary to reactivate the market and relocate the private-owned traditional market to another place, so as to tidy up the place and improve the traffic lanes.

"We want the revitalization of the market so it will be tidier, as well as make the regional-government-owned market lively again, as for 20 years, it has been so bleak," he added.

Minister Hasan visited Pasar Baru Bakauheni on Wednesday to review the condition of its infrastructure. He also conversed with vendors and visitors to gauge the prices of foods sold in the market.

According to his review, the prices of staple goods in the traditional market are still considerably stable.

"Thank God, until now, all stocks of staple goods are still sufficient, whether it is rice, eggs, chicken, everything is here," the minister noted. (antaranews)