President Prabowo Promotes Red and White Cooperatives as a Driver of National Economic Equity
JAKARTA – President Prabowo Subianto continues to promote the strengthening of cooperatives as a key pillar of national economic equality. Through the Red and White Village/Sub-District Cooperative program, the government aims to create local economic hubs capable of mobilizing community potential in a sustainable and inclusive manner, while strengthening the foundations of a people-oriented economy.
This commitment is realized through collaboration across ministries and state institutions. Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with four ministers and one head of a state institution. The MoU signing involved Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto, Deputy Minister of Transmigration Viva Yoga Mauladi, and President Director of the Social Security Agency for Health Ali Ghufron Mukti.
Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, stated that cross-sector collaboration is designed to strengthen cooperative institutions, expand market access, and improve the human resource capacity of village and sub-district cooperatives.
“We are preparing the Merah Putih Cooperative as a local economic hub capable of consolidating the potential of communities and small businesses in the regions,” Ferry said.
He emphasized that this collaboration is not just a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on paper, and that each agreement is not ceremonial.
“Each agreement has a clear scope so that village and sub-district cooperatives truly grow as centers of productive economic activity,” he said.
Regarding the collaboration with the Ministry of MSMEs, Ferry explained that the Merah Putih Cooperative network will function as a national marketplace for MSME products.
“Around 80,000 cooperative outlets planned for operation will prioritize local MSME products. This is important to shorten the distribution chain and increase business competitiveness,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman assessed that cooperatives have a strategic role as aggregators of MSME products from various regions.
“Cooperatives can be a bridge for MSMEs to enter a broader and more organized market. This aligns with the spirit of economic equality,” he said.
The implementation of this program is also evident in the regions. Assistant I for Economic Affairs, Ponorogo Regional Secretary, Harjono, emphasized that the establishment of the Merah Putih Cooperative is a national strategic program.
“This is a mandate from President Prabowo and must be implemented in all villages and sub-districts without exception,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Banyuwangi Regent, Ipuk Fiestiandani, expressed the local government’s readiness to fully support the program. Regency government assets can be used to build a Merah Putih Cooperative office.
“This demonstrates our support for the President’s priority program to accelerate the people’s economy,” said Ipuk.
With strong synergy between the central, regional, and community governments, the Merah Putih Cooperative is expected to become a driving force for national economic equality and strengthen the welfare of communities from rural to urban areas.
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