Sumatra Cooperatives Bear Brunt of Natural Disasters with Billions in Losses

Extensive Damage to Cooperative Businesses

The recent natural disasters in Sumatra have not only devastated residential areas but also severely impacted the local cooperative economy. The Ministry of Cooperatives has reported significant financial losses suffered by cooperatives in North Sumatra, Aceh, and West Sumatra. According to Minister Ferry Juliantono, the losses in North Sumatra alone amount to Rp37.72 billion.

Impact on LPDB Partner Cooperatives

The disaster has particularly affected cooperatives that are partners of the Lembaga Pengelola Dana Bergulir (LPDB). A total of 9 cooperatives suffered losses amounting to Rp20.66 billion. The breakdown shows that 5 cooperatives in Aceh and 4 in North Sumatra were impacted. This information was confirmed by Minister Juliantono through an official statement on January 2, 2026.

Government Response and Recovery Efforts

The substantial losses incurred by these cooperatives have drawn serious attention from the government, which is now focusing on post-disaster recovery efforts. The Ministry of Cooperatives is working to assess the full extent of the damage and formulate appropriate mitigation strategies to support the affected cooperatives.