Prabowo sees cooperatives as Indonesia's economic engine

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto said he is committed to making cooperatives the nation's economic engine by strengthening the people's economy starting from the village level.

Speaking at the 79th National Cooperatives Day remarks on Sunday, the president said that cooperatives would serve as a key instrument to ensure that economic growth directly benefits the people.

"Indonesia's cooperatives movement will rise to be Indonesia's economic powerhouse, an economic engine that will not bring our money out from Indonesia," Prabowo said during the commemoration event at Jakarta's Indonesia Arena Stadium.

The president said the wealth generated by the people should be returned to them, adding that this has not always been the case.

He said the government is therefore seeking to develop an economic system that benefits farmers, fishermen, and workers, arguing that cooperatives are the most suitable model because they enable economic growth from the grassroots level.

Strengthening cooperatives does not mean the government neglects the roles of other business actors. Indonesia, says Prabowo, needs all economic elements, from large to small, to move together for the national economy.

"We are not against large corporations. Indonesia is a large country, hence, we need cooperatives. But we also need MSMEs, we need the private sectors, we need SOEs, regional-owned enterprises; we need all of them," Prabowo said.

The president said that under his "Indonesia Incorporated" concept, all economic actors should work in synergy and reinforce each other.

Moreover, as cooperatives are an aspiration of national founders, they are an integral part of Indonesia's economic foundation.

Hence, strengthening cooperatives must work in line with measures to develop other economic sectors.

"As we strengthen cooperatives, it does not mean weakening other stakeholders, no. We will strengthen them all," Prabowo stated, adding that Indonesia is rich and will rise, and will be able to strengthen every pillar of its economy.

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Translator: Maria Cicilia Galuh P, Nabil Ihsan

Editor: Bayu Prasetyo

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