“True independence is rooted in economic self-reliance. It is true that this country has all the requisite state institutions, both at the central and regional levels, but some of our people are still reeling from hunger and poverty. We are not independent yet,” he remarked.
The president made the statement at the launch of around 80 thousand cooperatives under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program in Klaten District, Central Java, on Monday.
He affirmed that an independent state is one that can provide sufficient access to food for all citizens, allowing them to live decent lives.
With this in mind, Prabowo said the government decided to develop numerous cooperatives in rural areas nationwide to achieve equitable economic development from the grassroots level.
“Cooperatives serve as a tool for economically disadvantaged people to transform their weakness into strength. In essence, these business entities are a means to achieve true independence,” Prabowo stated.
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He also underlined that the spirit of cooperatives had long been promoted by Indonesia’s founding fathers through trade unions.
The president then expressed hope that the village cooperatives would prove effective in narrowing economic disparities, reducing prices of essential goods by shortening distribution chains, and protecting rural residents from loan sharks and middlemen.
To date, the Red and White Village Cooperatives program has led to the establishment of 81,140 cooperatives in rural areas across 514 districts and cities in 38 provinces. Of these, 80,081 have been registered as legal business entities.
Additionally, the government has designated 108 of these cooperatives as pilot models for the initial implementation phase of the program, which is supported by 15 central government institutions in collaboration with local governments.
All village cooperatives are expected to offer a range of essential goods and services, such as basic necessities, medical treatment, pharmaceutical products, and savings and loan services.
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Translator: Fathur R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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