Knock! Draft Regional Regulation on Supermarkets Officially Ratified, Distance Between Locations Regulated

Acting Mayor of Bandung, Bambang Tirtoyuliono, said that the growth of shopping centers, supermarkets and people's markets has become a characteristic feature of the community's economic dynamics. The existence of small and micro businesses (MSMEs) is part of the economy. "For this reason, it is necessary to have policies and regulations that are inclusive and support the existence of MSMEs. The City Government (Pemkot) together with Special Committee (Pansus) 5 formulated and outlined policies in this Draft Regional Regulation," said Bambang. Substantially, the regional regulation regulates location, distance to business premises, operating hours, and partnerships between business actors and shopping centers and supermarkets. "Location and distance refer to the spatial planning of the city area. Then, with regard to partnerships between shopping center and supermarket business actors, this is implemented in the form of cooperation in marketing domestic products, with domestic brands, providing business premises and supplies," he said. Meanwhile, in development and arrangement, the Bandung City Government will carry out ongoing guidance and supervision through a team formed by the Acting Mayor. A brief overview of this Regional Regulation, in article 8 it is explained that shopping centers and supermarkets must meet requirements such as being at least 0.5 km from public markets and 0.5 km from similar small businesses located on the side of primary collector roads or secondary arteries. Then, supermarkets and department stores are the closest 1.5 km from traditional markets which are located on the side of primary collector roads or secondary arteries. Then, hypermarkets and wholesalers are the closest 2.5 km from the people's market which is located on the side of the primary collector road or secondary artery. Meanwhile, minimarkets located on the side of neighborhood roads with a moving area of up to 200 square meters are the closest 0.5 km from the people's market. "The importance of this new regional regulation lies not only in its impact on large entrepreneurs, but also on the welfare of the wider community," he said. According to Bambang, the availability of well-regulated shopping centers, supermarkets and public markets can create jobs, increase product accessibility for consumers and stimulate local economic growth. "Thus, updating regional regulations is not only a necessity, but also a strategic step to face dynamic changes in the economic structure of society," he continued. Meanwhile, Chairman of Special Committee 5 of the Bandung City DPRD, Dudy Himawan, said that the Raperda process had been carried out according to the existing stages. "Special Committee 5 together with the Bandung City Government have formulated this Draft Regional Regulation according to the stages to produce legal products that will bring positive value to the people of Bandung City in the future," said Dudy. (din)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Information Office

Yayan A. Brilyana