Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (K/L) Builds a "Super Team" to Strengthen the Cooperative-Based People's Economy

JAKARTA - Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Ferry Juliantono emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in accelerating rural economic independence.

This was conveyed by Minister of Cooperatives Ferry at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Cooperatives and a number of ministries, institutions, and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government, Monday, May 11.

"We have to build a super team so that hopefully with collaboration and a strong team, we can succeed in various programs implemented by the government," Ferry said in his remarks, quoted Tuesday, May 12.

The parties involved in this cooperation are the Ministry of Population and Family Development/BKKBN, the Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (PPPA), the National Standardization Agency (BSN), BPJS Employment, the Government Investment Center (PIP) of the Ministry of Finance, and the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government.

Ferry emphasized that the main focus of this collaboration is the strengthening of the priority program of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative (KDKMP).

The Minister of Coordinating Human Development and Culture detailed several strategic points of the cooperation, including with the Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (PPPA), the products of the village women's group will be incubated, financed, and marketed through village cooperative outlets.

"KDKMP will operate drug outlets and village clinics which also function as childcare and child protection units," said Ferry.

The Ministry of Home Affairs synergizes with the Ministry of Population and Family Development or BKKBN to encourage the groups being trained in the village to have cooperative business entities.

Then, through cooperation with the National Standardization Agency (BSN), cooperative products will be encouraged to have standards that are able to compete in both domestic and foreign markets.

Apart from product development, the social protection aspect is an important point. Menkop encourages BPJS Employment to provide comprehensive protection for cooperative managers, ranging from managers to security and financial personnel.

"We also encourage BPJS Employment to reach out to women's groups and those under the relevant ministries so that they can benefit from protection," added the Minister.

In terms of capital, cooperation with the Government Investment Center (PIP) under the Ministry of Finance is expected to help finance business units and groups that have been transformed into cooperatives.

Ferry hopes that this collective synergy can provide real benefits for cooperative members and the wider community at the village and sub-district levels.