Attending Harkopnas In Padang, Minister Of Industry Affirms The Need For Digital Transformation In The Cooperative Sector

Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of Industry)

The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) emphasized the importance of accelerating digital transformation in the cooperative sector.

This is to support the progress of cooperatives in Indonesia because of its important role in promoting the welfare of the community.

"In my opinion, digital cooperatives are a must," said Minister of Industry (Menperin) Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, Monday, July 24.

Agus said, with digitalization in various activities in cooperatives, be it cooperatives that produce products or services, they can produce efficiency and increase competitiveness.

"Along with the times, cooperatives can become one of the pillars of economic strength in the era of the digital economy," he said.

On that occasion, the Minister of Industry expressed his appreciation to the Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dekopin) under the leadership of Nurdin Halid who had organized the 76th National Coordination Day in Padang City.

He emphasized that his party opened the door as wide as possible to collaborate with Dekopin.

Moreover, he continued, so far cooperatives have played a role in developing new industrial entrepreneurs, especially in the small and medium industry (IKM) sector.

"We have many programs and activities in IKM development which can also be relevant to cooperative development efforts. Moreover, the Ministry of Industry has five work units in the West Sumatra region, the most compared to other provinces," he said.

In addition, Agus invites all parties including Dekopin to jointly find innovative solutions and strengthen collaboration, with a strong determination and enthusiasm in facing global economic challenges that are still not stable at this time.

"We see this cooperative not only as an economic pillar, but also a pillar of the nation. Therefore, our challenge in the future is to socialize and educate the public regarding the importance and benefits of the cooperative itself in a directed and sustainable manner," he explained.

The Minister of Industry is optimistic that cooperatives will play an important role in supporting the national economy. Moreover, the condition of the Indonesian economy is at a fairly good and stable level at this time.

This can be seen from a number of indicators.

"Our economy is better than other countries in the world, by returning to the status of the upper-middle income country after the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

Not only that, Agus also reminded the government's priority program, namely the Increase in the Use of Domestic Products (P3DN).

This policy can be carried out at all levels, not only in the central and local governments or BUMN and BUMD, but also in cooperatives.

"The higher the use of domestic products, it will bring a broad multiplier effect to the economy," he said.

He hopes that the cooperative will also become an agent of success in the implementation of the P3DN program.

This is because domestic products must be able to host in their own country.

"We want to see in the future the creation of many cooperatives categorized as large business entities. In some countries, the success of the economy is also determined by the success of building the cooperative itself," he concluded.