"We continue focusing on the operational and development of over 80 million Red and White Cooperatives units throughout Indonesia until December 2025, to ensure the creation of 1 million jobs," Juliantono stated after a closed-door meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office here on Monday.
According to the Cooperatives Ministry's press release, the ministry explained that every Red and White Cooperatives unit can provide jobs for 20-25 people in its seven subdivisions, namely food store, clinic, pharmacy, administrative office, savings and loan, warehouse, and logistics units.
He stated that over 907,000 residents have been members of Red and White Cooperatives, and 640,000 others became its administrators or supervisors, as mandated by the cooperatives system.
To support the Red and White Cooperatives operation, Juliantono disclosed that the ministry has recruited 1,104 project management officers assigned to every Indonesian province and cities, as well as over 8,000 business assistants that will support on-site cooperatives operation.
Workers in every cooperative unit will receive capacity-building and management competency training, he added.
"We have also provided training for 7,587 Red and White Cooperatives administrators and 159 units of provincial-, district- and city-level cooperatives offices to optimise Red and White Cooperatives operation and ensure it opens new jobs," the minister said.
To ensure the financial sustainability of each cooperative unit, the minister stated that he has asked the state-owned banks association, Himbara, to support the operation of cooperatives.
Juliantono also proposed affirmative policies for the cooperatives, including optimising them to supply government-subsidised goods and providing low-interest loans and lower income-tax facilities.
According to the minister, over 80,000 Red and White Cooperatives units are ready for operation this month after completing their administrative necessities, while Himbara has started disseminating information about the loan mechanism and business proposal to the cooperatives.
The government is targeting 16,000 to 20,000 Red and White Cooperative units to receive financial assistance from state-owned banks, he said, adding that each unit is eligible for up to Rp3 billion in funding for working capital and business development.
Related news: Village cooperatives to access Rp3 bln funding by Sept 24: Minister
Related news: RI bets big on Red and White Cooperatives to boost rural economy
Translator: Shofi Ayudiana, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Primayanti
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
