"Our target is to develop 1,000 fishing villages in 2026, with a broader goal of 5,000 villages by 2029," he remarked at the Indonesia Economic Outlook 2026 event in Jakarta on Friday.
Prabowo emphasized that since the country’s founding, his administration is the first to direct special attention to fishermen and coastal communities as part of efforts to strengthen the marine sector.
Elaborating on the national program, the president noted that each fishing village would be equipped with ice factories, cold storage facilities, docks, and even vessels, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of the fishery distribution chain.
He clarified that the plan is not to provide fishermen with all necessities for free but to apply a cooperative business model.
"This program is not about charitable handouts; it runs under a cooperative scheme. In other words, the fishermen will repay all expenses to banks and the government," he explained, adding that the credits may be settled within 10 to 12 years.
He noted the extensive payment period as proof of the government’s commitment to fairness, citing how major companies typically require comparable settlement time frames.
Aside from fishing villages, Prabowo confirmed ongoing efforts to accelerate the development of supporting facilities and infrastructure for more than 80,000 cooperatives established under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program.
He said the government is constructing warehouses, cold storage facilities, grocery outlets, clinics, pharmacies, and other key buildings for around 30,000 village cooperatives, hundreds of which are expected to open for business soon.
Regarding financing, Prabowo noted that the program is sustained by Village Funds, which have been flowing to rural communities over the past decade.
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Translator: Maria/Andi, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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