JAKARTA — The government of the eighth President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, together with Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, has set strengthening the village economy to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as the main focus in encouraging national economic equality.
This approach is based on the idea of community-based development, where the village is the main subject that drives the economy.
The Head of State views villages not only as objects, but as centers of inclusive and sustainable development, with the main goal of reducing economic inequality between villages and cities.
The Geopolitical and Geostrategic Expert Council of BPIP RI, Prof. Dr. Ermaya Suradinata, assessed the vision of the new government as a significant step in economic equality.
He explained that the village-to-center approach allows local communities to play an active role as agents of change, so that the growing economy comes from local strength.
According to Ermaya, this strategy can reduce the economic inequality that has occurred due to dependence on urban areas.
“Development from the village has great potential in eradicating structural poverty that shackles rural communities,” he said.
President Prabowo’s breakthrough step in separating the Ministry of Cooperatives from the Ministry of SMEs also received appreciation.
Minister of Cooperatives Budi Arie Setiadi explained that the decision aims to enable cooperatives to stand as large business entities, which have a significant impact on the people’s economy and are better organized.
According to Budi, cooperatives must be seen as pillars of the people’s economy that can provide great benefits to their members.
“Cooperatives as the backbone of the economy need to be empowered to provide maximum benefits to the community,” he stressed.
This is in line with President Prabowo’s long-held ideals of making cooperatives a mainstay of the national economy.
On the other hand, the Executive Director of the Indonesian Political Review, Ujang Komarudin, appreciated President Prabowo’s steps in facing economic domination by oligarchies.
According to Ujang, the policies of the eighth President of the Republic of Indonesia showed courage in breaking the dominance of a handful of elites who had been gripping the economy.
“This courage can bring positive changes to people’s welfare and provide greater opportunities for local business actors,” concluded Ujang.
Through policies that favor villages, cooperatives, and the wider community, the Prabowo-Gibran government is committed to eliminating inequality and realizing a more equitable economy, in line with the grand ideal of building the archipelago from the roots to the center.