Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The opening of a modern market in the Panakkukang area next month will pose a serious threat to traditional markets in Makassar city, a non-governmental organization (NGO) here said.

"The modern market with comfortable facilities will threaten the the survival of traditional markets here," Makassar Public Policy Study Institute (LSKP) Working Committee spokesman Salma Ruslan said here on Friday.

He said the Makassar City administration should not arbitrarily issue a license for the operation of the modern market while ignoring the fate of traders at traditional markets.

According to him, there should be special treatment for the traditional market players to enable them to survive in the midst of existing super malls and modern markets with discounted prices and comfortable facilities.

"The city administration should encourage traditional markets to improve their services in order to continue attracting customers. Renovate the old markets and give incentives to traditional markets which are able to maintain their facilities," he said.

He said it was necessary to maintain traditional markets in Makassar because they played an important role in local economic activity and were absorbing significant numbers of manpower.

"Therefore the city administration should continue to pay attention to the existence of traditional markets by improving their status to become healthy markets like Pa`baeng-baeng market and Sambung Jawa market," he said.

(T.SYS/O001/B003/S026)

Editor: Suryanto
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