"To date, 1,000 village cooperatives have established outlets and warehouses and are ready for operation," she stated during the inauguration of the Kepala Tujuh Red and White Village Cooperative outlet and warehouse in Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands, on Tuesday.
She added that 29,000 village cooperatives across Indonesia are currently still in the physical construction process.
"Our target is for at least 30,000 village cooperatives to have completed their physical facilities and warehouses and be ready for operation by March of this year," she remarked.
Farichah explained that the construction of these outlets and warehouses represents the initial phase, as the cooperatives have only recently formed their management boards and have not yet begun full operations.
"The Ministry of Cooperatives, alongside PT Agro Industri Nasional (Agrinas), is designing the operational processes for these Red and White Village Cooperatives to distribute various basic necessities to communities in villages," she said.
She emphasized that the Red and White Village Cooperative is a high-priority government program, following President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to improve the welfare of people at the village level.
"It is our responsibility to improve the welfare of the community," the deputy minister stressed.
The Indonesian government initiated the Red and White Village Cooperatives as hubs of economic and social services in village communities, offering savings, loans, and clinic services, among others.
With over 80,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives established nationwide, the Ministry of Cooperatives is now accelerating the construction of outlets, warehouses, and the infrastructure necessary to support their operation.
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Translator: Aprionis, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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