Indonesia pushes cooperative expansion and SME licensing reforms

Coordinating Minister for Food Zulkifli Hasan clarified that the Red‑and‑White Cooperative is a government infrastructure for distributing subsidized goods and agricultural products, purchasing farmers' post‑harvest dry grain at a set price of Rp6,500 per kilogram. The government targets 35,334 cooperative units to be fully operational this year, with an ultimate goal of 80,000 units.

The Ministry of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises and the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) are working together to speed up licensing for small and medium‑sized enterprises. The joint effort will streamline product registration and business permits, reducing bureaucratic friction and improving market access for entrepreneurs. Both agencies are finalising the technical framework for the accelerated licensing pathways.