Minister Of Trade Zulhas Arranges Minimarket Rules For Mandatory Supply Of Commodities To Nearby Stalls

Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan. (Photo: ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Minister of Trade (Mendag) Zulkifli Hasan said his party is currently drafting a regulation that will oblige minimarkets to supply commodities to stalls in the vicinity.

According to the Trade Minister, the regulation is expected to boost the economy of small stalls.

He claimed to have had the idea since 2004.

"Therefore, we are still discussing the Permendag (Minister of Trade Regulation), for friends who have minimarkets, they must serve the surrounding stalls, at the same price," said Zulkifli as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 25.

Now, according to him, the sub-districts in various regions already have minimarkets.

With this regulation, he hopes that the trade distribution chain can be more easily reached by community-owned stalls.

"For example, if the trader is a shop, to agents, to distributors, to factories, it requires a long process, so it is expensive, but if assisted by logistics (minimarkets) earlier, the price can be cheap," said Zulkifli.

If the economy of these stalls is advanced, then according to him it will also be felt by the minimarket manager.

"The stalls already exist, the stall is a place where you don't have to pay (rent), you don't have to pay for electricity, you don't have to pay for security, you just have to support direct distribution, so it's cheap," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor of West Java Uu Ruzhanul Ulum wants minimarket companies to be able to make room for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products.

At a minimum, he said, 30 percent of the products in a mini market are products produced by MSMEs around the mini market.

Because, he said, now there are various minimarkets that have penetrated the villages.

"We as the government have a responsibility to increase people's purchasing power, so the existing instruments must encourage it," said Uu.