Trade Minister: 80 Percent of Markets in Aceh Tamiang Have Been Operating After the Disaster

JAKARTA - Trade Minister Budi Santoso stated that the Kuala Simpang Market in Aceh Tamiang Regency, Aceh, had 80 percent of its activities back after the disaster in the region.

"Trade in the Kuala Simpang Market is trying to run again with 80 percent of traders already starting to be active. This activity runs parallel to the cleaning of the market," said Budi, quoted by Antara.

Budi said the Ministry of Trade (Kemendag) is committed to continuing to focus on the recovery of markets affected by the Sumatra disaster so that they can again drive the community's economy.

During his visit to the Kuala Simpang Market, Budi said that a number of traders had started to resume their activities, while the cleaning process continued.

"We have checked the condition of the Kuala Simpang Market. A number of traders have started selling. While the process of cleaning the market continues, we continue to ensure that the supply of basic necessities in the disaster-affected areas is maintained," he said.

Kuala Simpang Market is the largest market that is the center of community trade in Aceh Tamiang Regency. This market, which has been in existence since 1982, accommodates as many as 295 traders consisting of 156 los traders and 139 kiosk traders.

To support the acceleration of the recovery of the Kuala Simpang Market, on Wednesday, (31/12/2025), the Ministry of Trade through the Ministry of Trade Care Program handed over assistance in the form of 100 emergency tents to become a place for traders to sell during the recovery process.

In addition to the Kuala Simpang Market, the Ministry of Trade through the Ministry of Trade Care has handed over assistance to disaster-affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra on (12/1/2025), (13/12/2025), and (22/12/2025).

The assistance is the result of fundraising by the Ministry of Trade employees, business actors, and the general public.

The Ministry of Trade coordinates with local governments, distributors, and business actors' associations to ensure the smooth and available distribution of basic necessities in disaster-affected areas.

Currently, the stock of basic commodities such as chicken meat, eggs, curly chilies, and sweet peas is monitored to be under control because they receive supplies from Takengon and Medan.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Trade has written to Bulog and ID Food to immediately fill the supply of Minyakita cooking oil and rice Stabilization of Food Supply and Prices (SPHP) to disaster-affected areas.