“The President is focusing on improving people’s welfare. In essence, he is striving to stimulate the economy from the bottom up,” Purwanto Joko Irianto, an expert from the KSP, said after attending an event to discuss the program’s preparations in Malang city, East Java province, on Monday.
He added that the national program is designed to boost the rural economy through the establishment and operation of cooperatives whose businesses are tailored to the strengths and potential of host villages.
“Such cooperatives are meant to support productive activities, benefiting farmers and ranchers across villages,” he pointed out.
Irianto highlighted that these rural business entities could also serve as suppliers or distributors of food ingredients required for the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program.
“Village cooperatives can supply MBG raw materials to urban areas. In other words, materials unavailable in cities can be procured from villages,” he explained.
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At the same event, Malang Mayor Ali Muthohirin assured that all Red and White Cooperatives established or planned in 57 villages across the city would be legalized by June this year.
“Our target is to complete all legalization matters by June 5 at the latest,” he informed, noting that notaries have been involved to support the process.
He said that the municipal government has prepared capacity-building activities for prospective managers and operators of the planned cooperatives.
“Our Office of Cooperatives, Industry, and Trade will provide training for human resources once the organizational structure and legalization are finalized,” he said.
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Translator: Ananto P, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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