Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Drives UMKM Economic Recovery in Banda Aceh through Pasar 1001 Malam
Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment A. Muhaimin Iskandar expressed appreciation for the organisation of Pasar 1001 Malam in Banda Aceh as a collective effort to revive the local economy, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprise (UMKM) operators.
Minister Muhaimin noted that the floods and landslides that struck Aceh in November posed a severe test for the community and had a significant impact on economic activity. Many small shops were forced to close, home-based businesses halted production, and people’s markets experienced declining activity.
These remarks were delivered by Minister Muhaimin via video presented at the Pasar 1001 Malam Festival in Banda Aceh, Aceh, on Friday, 13 March 2026.
“Five months have now passed, and the recovery process will continue. The entire government is committed to accelerating post-disaster economic recovery, particularly for small and medium business operators who form the backbone of Aceh’s economy,” said the Coordinating Minister.
The launch of Pasar 1001 Malam in Banda Aceh is part of the government’s broader effort to provide greater business opportunities for UMKM operators. The programme represents a concrete step by the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment in strengthening community economic empowerment.
Through this initiative, the government is promoting the utilisation of idle or underutilised assets, whether owned by the government, state-owned enterprises, or the private sector, to serve as business spaces for UMKM operators in strategically important locations.
“Pasar 1001 Malam offers affordable rental costs, making what were previously expensive locations accessible to all our small and medium enterprises. These locations thus become economic hubs capable of attracting more consumers,” explained Minister Muhaimin.
He added that as MSMEs grow and develop, they will automatically create new employment opportunities for the community.
The Coordinating Minister also encouraged local governments to replicate the Pasar 1001 Malam initiative by utilising public facilities as UMKM business spaces, as mandated in Government Regulation Number 7 of 2021.
Looking forward, Pasar 1001 Malam is expected not only to operate during Ramadan but also to be held sustainably across various regions of Indonesia as part of strengthening the grassroots economic ecosystem.
As part of the Pasar 1001 Malam activities, the Coordinating Ministry for Community Empowerment will also distribute ready-to-eat processed food to flood disaster survivors, hand over 103 units of temporary housing resulting from collaboration with Rumah Zakat, deliver 253 units of temporary housing from collaboration with DT Peduli, and distribute 1,000 Islamic religious texts for Islamic boarding schools in North Aceh and Tamiang Aceh.
Through the working group, the government is encouraging all assistance programmes to adopt labour-intensive approaches involving local communities.
The government has launched the SMK Go Global programme to prepare 500,000 Indonesian migrant workers from senior secondary and vocational school graduates to work abroad in accordance with international standards.
Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment A. Muhaimin Iskandar stated that the management of Indonesian migrant workers must continue to transform.
Minister Muhaimin officially reopened the Kualanamu (KNO) – Rembele (TXE) flight route operated by Wings Air, which now operates daily to transport passengers and humanitarian aid to Aceh.