13 Million E-Commerce Transactions, SMEs in Disaster-Affected Areas Revive

Economic recovery in areas affected by hydro-meteorological disasters in Aceh, North Sumatra (North Sumatra), and West Sumatra (West Sumatra) shows significant progress. One indicator is the increase in transactions by micro, small, and medium enterprises (SMEs). Data from the Task Force (Satgas) for Accelerating Rehabilitation and Reconstruction (PRR) recorded on Thursday (8/5/2026) an increase in SME transactions via e-commerce platforms reaching 13,209,182. This figure covers Aceh with 87,746 transactions and 1,396 products, North Sumatra with 9,781 transactions and 1,396 products, and West Sumatra with 3,339,490 transactions and 101 products. Thus, the total transactions show an increase of up to 77 per cent compared to the end of April when SME transactions on e-commerce platforms only reached 7,461,422 in the three disaster-affected Sumatra regions. Details of the evenly distributed economic stimulus assistance to disaster survivors in Aceh amount to Rp 250.48 billion out of a total of Rp 254.44 billion. Meanwhile, Rp 53.58 billion out of a total of Rp 62.90 billion has been disbursed to disaster survivors in North Sumatra, and Rp 16.83 billion out of a total of Rp 17.74 billion has been disbursed for disaster survivors in West Sumatra. Satgas PRR Spokesperson Amran emphasised that economic recovery for disaster survivors is the top priority in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Sumatra disaster. Economic activities in the three affected areas, Amran continued, are gradually recovering, along with the restoration of economic indicators consisting of SME recovery, distribution of People’s Business Credit (KUR), and market improvements. As a further step, Amran affirmed that Satgas PRR will soon complete the improvement of markets that have not yet been addressed in the three affected areas to stimulate the community’s economic wheels to fully recover. “In West Sumatra, it is already 100 per cent (markets). Then, in North Sumatra, it is already 98 per cent, and in Aceh 89 per cent. So, only a few markets are being maximised so they can be occupied as soon as possible,” Amran added.