Jakarta – PT Berkarya Makmur Sejahtera president commissioner Hutomo Mandala Putra, who is also known as Tommy Soeharto, plans to establish at least one Goro wholesale grocery store in each province. Hutomo is better known as Tommy, the youngest son of former president Soeharto.
"It is a surprise that the progress has exceeded our expectations. The economic empowerment [program] has gotten positive responses," Tommy said during the grand opening of Goro's Cibubur outlet on Sunday in East Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.
Berkarya Makmur Sejahtera president director Milasari Kusumo Anggraini said that five Goro outlets had been established since the company was revived on Oct. 17, 2018.
The four other outlets were located in West Java (Bandung), Central Java (Wonosobo), East Java (Surabaya) and Papua.
Milasari said Goro offered opportunities to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), farmers and small livestock farmers to become supplier partners.
"We also have 69 small shops that we call 'e-warung' in West Java, East Java and Central Java. We have partnered with eight cooperatives, 50 communities and more than 100 [SMEs]," she said.
Milasari said the new Cibubur outlet had gained 5,000 registered customers since its soft opening five months ago, which included owners of small shops, restaurants, catering businesses and cafes, as well as offices and families.
By the end of 2019, Goro planned to open six more outlets and additional e-warung in villages "to boost the people's economy and to cover as many segments of society as possible", she said. (bbn)