Finance Minister Assures Small Traders: Don't Worry, Economic Conditions Will Improve Within One Year

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa conducted an inspection visit to Tanah Abang Market Block A to assess consumer purchasing power ahead of Ramadan on Monday, 9 March 2026.

One clothing trader at Tanah Abang expressed disappointment about Indonesia’s economic conditions. “How can this country return to normal? Please, Minister. Let ordinary people stop struggling,” the trader said to Purbaya.

In response, Purbaya explained that he had only been serving as Finance Minister for approximately five months. He therefore asked traders for patience and support in driving economic recovery.

“I’ve only been here five months, so by the end of the year things should normalise, which is why I’m asking for your support to keep pushing the economy forward. Even if others are critical, we’ll keep driving economic growth from the grassroots up to move things forward,” Purbaya told a trader at Tanah Abang Market in Central Jakarta.

According to him, the government would continue to drive economic growth. Purbaya promised that within one year, economic conditions would turn for the better.

“I’ve only been here five months, so don’t worry—after a year things will be different. I’ve only been here five months, so wait,” he said.

During his visit, Purbaya assessed that Tanah Abang, as one of Indonesia’s largest wholesale clothing centres, remained reasonably busy. However, it is not as bustling as during the market’s golden era.

“But I heard directly from traders that despite the decline, many people are still buying. We will continue to protect the domestic market and locally-produced goods. I will close the loopholes allowing illegal imported goods to enter and kill the domestic market,” he said.

“Most traders’ complaints relate to buyers shifting to online marketplaces. We will try to address this so that the economy in communities continues to thrive,” he added.