Indonesia taps cooperatives for people-centered economy: Prabowo

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto underscored cooperatives as the embodiment of Indonesia’s people-centered economy, stressing their role as instruments of empowerment for the poor and marginalized.

“Ladies and gentlemen, cooperatives are the tools of the weak; they are the instruments of the poor. However, they are like a bundle of sticks - weak alone but strong together,” he remarked during the 79th National Cooperative Day in Jakarta on Sunday (July 12).

Prabowo assured the public that his government is striving to boost the economy by reviving the cooperative movement nationwide through the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program, with nearly 16,000 units already built.

He emphasized that strengthening cooperatives would not undermine other economic actors but foster an inclusive ecosystem alongside private firms, state-run enterprises, region-owned companies, and micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Elaborating on the KDMP program, Prabowo framed it as a means to stimulate equitable growth by empowering rural communities across the country.

“Our economy will rise from villages, sub-districts, and districts, where money will remain circulating there,” he affirmed, stressing commitment to keeping national wealth from flowing abroad.

Each KDMP is projected as an integrated hub offering loans, savings, staple goods, medicines, and logistics services.

Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar echoed the sentiment, highlighting cooperatives’ strategic role in expanding financing access, strengthening community enterprises, boosting local products, and widening economic opportunities down to the rural level.

On that note, he said that his institution remains committed to strengthening synergy with ministries, state agencies, regional governments, and stakeholders to align the KDMP program with community empowerment initiatives aimed at improving people's welfare.

"With the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, efforts to strengthen cooperatives are expected to create a more independent, productive, and prosperous society," Iskandar remarked.

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Translator: Anita P, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Primayanti

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