Indonesia to strengthen 130,000 cooperatives to boost economy

Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono has announced a commitment to strengthen the development of approximately 130,000 existing cooperatives across the country. Speaking at the Koperasi Awards 2026 in Jakarta, Juliantono emphasized that the government's focus extends beyond creating new entities to ensuring the sustainability, professionalism, and independence of established cooperatives.

The initiative aims to improve institutional quality, governance, and competitiveness to increase public trust. Juliantono noted that cooperatives are intended to serve as primary instruments for consolidating regional economic potential, aligning with President Prabowo Subianto’s priority programs, such as the 'Koperasi Desa Kelurahan (Kopdes) Merah Putih'.

Furthermore, the Ministry is encouraging cooperatives to collaborate more actively with State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) and the private sector to enhance human resource quality and promote inclusive economic growth. Juliantono also highlighted the enduring relevance of the cooperative values championed by Bung Hatta, noting that while the core principles of togetherness remain, the methods of application must evolve to meet modern, dynamic global demands.