Director General of Village Development and Empowerment Says KDKMP is Expected to Encourage Village Economic Independence

Director General of Village Development and Empowerment of the Ministry of Trade, La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo (third from left) while accompanying the Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian. (Source: Ist)

JAKARTA - The existence of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative (KDKMP) is expected to encourage rural economic independence, as well as momentum to strengthen rural independence, said the Director General of Village Government Development of the Ministry of Home Affairs, La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo.

La Ode last weekend accompanied the Minister of Home Affairs and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in the inauguration of the Operationalization of 1,061 Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperatives (KDKMP) by the President of the Republic of Indonesia in Nglawak Village, Kertosono District, Nganjuk Regency, East Java Province.

The inauguration was marked by the pressing of the siren button by President Prabowo as a symbol of the start of the operationalization of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative nationally.

"In his speech, President Prabowo emphasized that the inauguration of 1,061 Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives is an important milestone in strengthening the village-based people's economy," said La Ode Ahmad P. Bolombo, quoting Prabowo's statement, in a statement Thursday (21/5).

"The existence of the cooperative is expected to be able to encourage the economic independence of villages through the absorption of community production, distribution of basic needs, and strengthening access to economic services for rural communities," continued La Ode.

Furthermore, La Ode explained that the operationalization of the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperative is a strategic step in building a sustainable village economic ecosystem that is in the public interest.

"The Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative program is an important momentum to strengthen village independence. With the synergy of the central and regional governments, cooperatives are expected to be able to become drivers of the community's economy while strengthening national food security," said La Ode.

Meanwhile, the Coordinating Minister for Food and Agriculture said that the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative program was not merely physical development, but an instrument of economic justice for rural communities throughout Indonesia.

The activity was also attended by members of the Red and White Cabinet, members of the Indonesian Parliament, ministers, the TNI Commander, the National Police Chief, the Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly, the Governor of East Java, members of the East Java and Central Java Provincial Forkopimda, heads of regions throughout East Java, all heads of regions virtually, village heads, and managers of Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperatives from various regions in Indonesia.

Through the synergy of the central and local governments, the operationalization of the Red and White Village/Neighborhood Cooperative is expected to be a driver of the village economy, strengthen national food security, and improve community welfare towards the realization of the President's Vision of the Republic of Indonesia.