JAKARTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will focus on collecting data on damaged markets and their rehabilitation to accelerate post earthquake-economic recovery in West Sumatra's provincial capital city of Padang, Kompas daily quoted a minister as saying on Wednesday.

    "The step should be prepared early so that recovery process of local trade activities could be accelerated. It will prevent further loss for people," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu was cited a saying while observing the city on Tuesday.

    Actually, even without the disaster, the Trade Ministry has planned to revitalize markets in Padang and Pariaman regency in 2010, using the state budget worth 3 billion rupiah (about 300,000U.S. dollars).

    "With the catastrophe, the fund would not be sufficient... The most important is that in short term, the smoothness of goods and basic staples inflow should be handled," she said.

    Due to the earthquake, goods distribution to West Sumtra was hindered. Therefore, the Trade Ministry is seeking alternative strips to recover goods supply to keep price stability.

    A 7.6-Richter scale earthquake devastated the region last Wednesday, claiming more than 600 lives and still counting.

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