Minister Ferry Juliantono urges Islamic groups to build economy via cooperatives

Indonesian Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono is encouraging Islamic organizations, including mosques, boarding schools (pesantren), and community groups, to strengthen economic independence through cooperatives. Speaking at the fifth Muktamar of Wahdah Islamiyah in Jakarta, Juliantono emphasized that cooperatives represent the implementation of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which is based on the principle of kinship.

Juliantono urged cooperatives to shift their focus from purely administrative and institutional functions toward active business development. He suggested that these entities should expand into production, distribution, industry, and finance sectors to create a productive and sustainable economic ecosystem.

In a separate engagement with the Front Persaudaraan Islam (FPI) in Jakarta, the Minister reiterated the importance of economic preaching (dakwah ekonomi) to achieve fair and equitable economic growth. He highlighted the historical role of Islamic organizations in Indonesia's economic landscape and called for collaboration between the government and these groups to restore the role of cooperatives as a pillar of the national economy.