13/09/2007 (Jakarta Post), JAKARTA: The Jakarta and Bekasi trade agencies, in cooperation with PT Mikie Oleo Nabati Industri, are stepping up their sales of cooking oil at below market prices on the eve of the Islamic fasting month, when the need for the commodity usually increases sharply.

"We have allocated 20,000 liters of palm oil-based cooking oil to be sold at Rp 7,000 per liter (as against the market price of Rp 9,000-10,000) to help meet the needs of poor people," said Mikie Oleo general manager Vimala Putra at the launch of the market operations Tuesday.

Poor households can buy up to two liters during the market operations, which will continue Wednesday in Bekasi and its surrounding areas, Putra said. -- JP