Surabaya Revives Cooperatives to Face AEC 2015

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The Surabaya city administration is reviving near-bankrupt cooperatives so they might conduct business as part of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Cooperatives, and small and medium businesses, will serve as important vehicles for Surabaya residents to welcome the AEC, head of the Surabaya city cooperatives¿ small and medium businesses office, Hadi Mulyono, said here on Friday. "This weekend, we will organize an activity called the Surabaya city cooperative movement to face the AEC 2015. The activity will be centered at the Bulak fish center (SIB) in Surabaya on Sunday," he said. At the Bulak fish center, Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini will hold a discussion with local residents about the cooperative movement, confer awards on the management of successful cooperatives and sign a plaque inaugurating a culinary center in the city, he said. "The mayor will also hold a teleconference with sidewalk traders at Sentra Dukuh Menanggal and Sentra Taman Prestasi," he said. Earlier, the city cooperative office organized a gathering with 150 representatives of cooperatives as part of efforts to improve their performance. "We hope business agents in Surabaya are ready to face the AEC next year. Not only micro, small and medium businesses, but also cooperatives must be prepared for it," he said. (*) Reporting by Abdul Hakim