Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has said that it is continuing to strengthen its commitment to developing cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through collaboration with more parties.

Head of the ministry's legal and cooperation bureau, Henra Saragih, said in Bandung, West Java, on Tuesday that his ministry has inked several memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and cooperation pacts with a number of parties to advance local cooperatives and MSMEs.

He delivered the statement at the "Cooperatives, MSMEs, Entrepreneurship Development Collaboration through Domestic Cooperation Partnership" event.

According to him, in the period from March 2021 to December 2023, the legal and cooperation bureau helped arrange the signing of 150 cooperation agreements with more than 100 partners.

"Meanwhile, throughout 2023, the ministry through the legal and cooperation bureau has facilitated 45 cooperations that involve 44 stakeholders," he informed in a press release issued by his ministry.

He expounded that the stakeholders include ministries, agencies, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), private parties, and universities.

Saragih noted that the cooperation agreements have supported the achievement of the targets of several strategic programs of his ministry, including the modern cooperative program, the drafting of the cooperatives bill, extreme poverty alleviation, and national entrepreneurship development.

He said that in 2024, the ministry is aiming to meet the targets of several programs, such as the cooperatives and MSME data collection program, with a target of 21.4 million data; establishment of co-production houses at seven locations; and revitalization of people's markets.

"In addition, there is the extreme poverty alleviation program carried out in 97 districts and cities, packaging house service totaling 10 units, redesigning 63 PLUT KUMKM (integrated business service centers for cooperatives and MSMEs)," he informed.

At the same event, head of the public relations and legal bureau of Statistics Indonesia (BPS), Margaretha Ari Anggorowati, said that the collaboration between BPS and the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry since 2022 has resulted in a number of achievements.

One of the achievements has been the completion of MSME data collection in all provinces of Indonesia, except Bali and Yogyakarta.

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Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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