In a statement cited in Jakarta on Saturday, he explained that this arrangement stems from the central government's decision to grant the ownership of all village cooperative assets, including their supporting facilities, to rural governments.
"This way, we aim to bring considerable benefits to village governments," Susanto stated.
The minister then emphasized the importance of building synergy among all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the KDMP program, one of President Prabowo Subianto's flagship initiatives, delivers optimal outcomes.
"Let there be no more disagreements, no more debates over resources. God willing, these cooperatives will emerge as economic centers that boost rural economies," he said, expressing confidence that the cooperatives would not suffer any losses.
Susanto further remarked that the government envisions village cooperatives as strategic means to strengthen local economies and elevate the living standards of rural communities.
"It is crucial for all of us to make sure that Red and White Village Cooperatives can bring advancements to our country," he concluded.
On July 21, President Prabowo inaugurated about 80 thousand cooperatives established nationwide under the KDMP program in Klaten, Central Java. These business entities were created through collaboration between the Cooperatives Ministry and 17 other institutions.
The President has required all KDMPs to run at least seven key facilities—grocery stores, pharmacies, clinics, management offices, savings and loan service outlets, warehouses, and logistics infrastructure—to empower rural residents.
However, not all cooperatives immediately began operations due to a lack of these facilities. Data from the KDMP program's website shows that 11,225 village cooperatives have at least one operational outlet, with nearly 16 thousand outlets already active.
To address this, the government announced plans to fast-track their construction starting in October.
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono officially kicked off the construction acceleration initiative at the Wanajaya KDMP in Bekasi District, West Java, on Friday (October 17), targeting approximately 800 village cooperatives in various regions.
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Translator: Arnidhya N, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Arie Novarina
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