These village cooperatives will not only serve as community business platforms but also as key hubs for distributing staple necessities, empowering farmers and fishers, and eliminating harmful distribution chains that have long disadvantaged small communities, he pointed out.
“We are optimistic. As President (Prabowo Subianto) mentioned earlier, we must avoid the old pattern where only the chairperson profits first. Now is the era of the Red and White Village Cooperatives, where the people must benefit first,” he said, according to a statement released by the ministry here on Monday.
Once operational, the Red and White Village Co-operatives are expected to serve as strategic tools for eradicating extreme poverty, improving welfare, reducing stunting, and eliminating the role of middlemen or loan sharks.
The Ministry of Cooperatives, along with relevant stakeholders, will provide assistance to cooperatives that are not yet fully operational.
“For those not yet operating, we will push so that all cooperatives can operate as soon as possible,” Setiadi said.
To ensure business sustainability and prevent potential fraud due to mismanagement, the ministry has partnered with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Attorney General’s Office, and other law enforcement authorities.
This step aims to prevent the misuse of funds or financing by the cooperatives.
Minister Setiadi also encouraged the newly launched cooperatives to optimize the use of digital technology in their business operations to strengthen supervision systems.
He said he is optimistic that the cooperatives will grow significantly over the next three to four years and give rise to new economic hubs in villages.
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Translator: Shofi, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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