Menkop Budi Arie Asks Cooperatives To Participate In The Success Of Free Lunch Program

Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Budi Arie Setiadi. (Photo: ANTARA)

Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Budi Arie Setiadi asked cooperatives to support the implementation of the free lunch program (MBG) initiated by President Prabowo Subianto.

"Cooperatives are also expected to play an active role in the implementation of the MBG program which aims to meet the nutritional needs of the community, prevent stunting, alleviate poverty, and drive the people's economy," said Budi Arie Setiadi as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 17.

In the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), he said, cooperatives are directed to support national priorities in infrastructure development and improving quality employment opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship, and developing creative and agro-martimated industries in production centers.

Based on Law (UU) No. 59/2024 concerning the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) 2025-2045, cooperative performance indicators are designated as the ratio of cooperative business volume to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with a baseline of 1.17 percent by 2025, and are expected to reach 5 percent by 2045.

He admitted that he had carried out various programs to strengthen the cooperative ecosystem, such as involvement in food self-sufficiency activities and MBG programs, revitalizing Village Unit Cooperatives (KUD), downstreaming, and strengthening savings and loan businesses with emphasis on good cooperative governance standards, rebranding, and strengthening digitalization.

As of December 31, 2024, the number of cooperatives was recorded at 130,119 units with the number of members reaching 28.9 million people.

According to him, the main challenges in the development of cooperatives are the lack of regeneration, lack of professionalism, and the existence of traditional governance.

His party is also committed to carrying out various priority programs in 2025, including the revision of the Cooperative Law and related regulations to create a conducive ecosystem, facilitate the establishment of savings and loan cooperatives, as well as the development of cooperative digitization platforms, such as Kop.id Superapps.

These programs also include the development of online motorcycle taxi cooperatives, the revitalization of KUD, oil production for the people as an alternative to cheap oil, and the distribution of cheap fertilizers for cooperative member farmers.

In fact, cooperatives also play a role in the production of biomass energy and the management of people's oil wells, to improve the welfare of the people around the mine.