"We are witnessing an alarming situation where young people make up only 40 percent of the rural population," he pointed out in a statement issued here on Wednesday
Juliantono emphasized the urgent need to spur productive activities in villages to curb the unfavorable trend, similar to the one witnessed in Japan, where depopulation has been recorded in many villages due to continued youth migration to urban regions.
With this in mind, he highlighted that the presence of well-functioning cooperatives is expected to assure young rural talents of their villages' potential to emerge as promising and self-sustaining economic hubs that can contribute to the national economy.
The deputy minister contended that building collective awareness among young rural residents is key to unlocking the true potential of Indonesian villages, which, in turn, would boost their attractiveness through the emergence of new jobs.
"Each Red and White Village Cooperative is projected to empower at least 25 people. We will prepare an internship program focused on practical skills," he said.
Related news: Prabowo forms task force to expedite 80,000 co-ops plan
Elaborating on the program's implementation, Juliantono underlined that the government envisions the planned village cooperatives to run at least seven business units considered essential to meeting locals' needs.
He added that the businesses would help villages not only create jobs but also address broader local issues.
"We will guide villages throughout the cooperative development process until October 2025. It should be noted that the cooperatives can also run business activities besides the seven, tailored to the potential and characteristics of their host villages," he explained.
Furthermore, the official expressed confidence that the planned cooperatives would also contribute to price stability for staple goods and help shield villagers from predatory online loans and online gambling.
Related news: Jakarta plans October launch for 267 village cooperatives
Translator: Shofi A, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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