The Role of the Chinese People in Trade

January 20, 2025

THE PAST: Pabean Market was one of the markets in the Chinatown area, and many of the traders were originally Chinese.

Trading activities in Surabaya’s Chinatown area have a long and rich history, carried out by Chinese people for centuries.

History librarian Chrisyandi Tri Kartika said that Chinese people played a significant role in trade in Surabaya. He noted that most of Surabaya’s Chinese population were traders, both retailers and intermediaries selling agricultural and plantation products between the Dutch and the Indonesian archipelago.

“Their role as a liaison is what led them to be called the ‘middleman minority,’” Chrisyandi said.

Interestingly, they lived near rivers, where markets, shophouses, and Chinese temples were always found side by side in almost every Chinatown, including Surabaya.

“This demonstrates the close integration of the social, economic, and spiritual life of the Chinese community,” said the history librarian from Ciputra University Surabaya.

He cited the example of Surabaya, where several iconic markets are located in Chinatown, such as Pabean Market and Kapasan Market. According to Chrisyandi, Pabean Market was the largest market of its time and a gathering place for various ethnic groups.

In fact, decades after the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) arrived in Surabaya, Chinese Indonesians still dominated the economy.

Therefore, Surabaya’s Chinatown area was not just a place to live, but also a centre of commerce. (mnt/nur)