Awaken Local Wisdom Sogo Jongkok Market: 1,500 Meters Of Land In Cideng, Central Jakarta Ready To Accommodate Hundreds Of Street Vendors

The street trading center, commonly known as sogo jongkok, in the Cideng area, Central Jakarta. (VOI/Rizky Sulistio)

JAKARTA - Around the 1990s, sogo jongkok or overhang traders have been attached to the border area of ​​Gambir and Tanah Abang, or to be precise around Jalan Cideng, Gambir, Central Jakarta.

The buying and selling activity on the side of the road is said to have operated in 1997 and the permit was issued by the local government because it was related to the economic crisis and layoffs.

Various goods are sold on the side of the road. Sogo jongkok also became known because buyers had to squat down to transact goods with sellers. The reason is, the sellers also peddle goods held on the overhang of the road.

However, the development of sogo jongkok in the border area of ​​Gambir and Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, began to erode. The density of traders makes the roads in the area increasingly closed to traders. As time passed, sogo jongkok was finally evicted by the local government.

Heru Nuryaman, as the initiator of sogo jongkok in the Cideng area, Gambir, said he would restore the glory of sogo jongkok, which was once an icon in the area. He also prepared an area of ​​1,500 square meters to accommodate hundreds of traders who are ready to sell at sogo jongkok.

"For traders who misuse the designation, please join us here because we are already integrated with the local government," said Heru Nuryaman to VOI, Sunday, September 18.

The traders who will be accommodated in the sogo jongkok consist of various types of culinary, antiques, fashion and others.

"We accommodate everything here. Sogo squats every Saturday and Sunday, we hold it every holiday," he said.

Heru hopes that sogo jongkok can develop and return to its prime. Because at this time, the land designated for sogo squatting is official land so it does not interfere with public facilities.

"Because we provide the right place, we don't blame the designation either. So my hope for traders and visitors, let's enliven this Cideng sogo squat," he said.

Previously, it was reported that as many as 150 MSME traders from various types of sales held a "sogo jongkok" stall in the open area of ​​Tasik Cideng Market, Gambir District, Central Jakarta, Sunday, September 18.

The naming of sogo jongkok was revived to preserve the local wisdom of sogo jongkok which once triumphed on Jalan Cideng, Gambir area.