“This is based on Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2025 regarding the acceleration of the establishment of Red and White Village Cooperatives across Indonesia,” he said in Ambon, Maluku, on Wednesday.
“President Prabowo Subianto aims to develop the economy from the villages,” he added.
He emphasized that the cooperatives would not only help stimulate local economic activities but also support food self-sufficiency efforts.
“The development of Red and White Village Cooperatives is part of a grand strategy to realize equitable development and social justice at the grassroots level,” he added.
He further said that the central government has set up a task force to advance the program, noting that 80 thousand village cooperatives have been established nationwide so far.
He then urged provincial, district, and municipal governments to establish similar task forces to ensure the optimal implementation of the cooperatives program in their regions.
“It is important for regional governments to ensure that the cooperatives established are functioning and productive,” he said.
“This is not merely an administrative matter, as our mission is to solidify economic foundations in villages. We want the cooperatives to provide concrete benefits to communities,” he added.
The minister expressed the hope that the Red and White Village Cooperatives would help rural areas across Maluku province to prosper and emerge as new centers of production, as well as elevate the living standards of residents.
PDT Deputy Minister Ahmad Riza Patria, Deputy Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, and Maluku Governor Hendrik Lewerissa also attended the launch.
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Translator: Ode D, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
