Indonesia links family development with village cooperative push

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s population and cooperatives ministries signed an agreement to strengthen community economic empowerment through village cooperatives and family development programs, officials said on Tuesday.

Population and Family Development Minister Wihaji and Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono signed the memorandum in Jakarta on Monday.

Wihaji said the agreement aligns the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program with a longstanding initiative supporting mothers participating in the national family planning campaign.

He said cooperation across government agencies is essential to improve public welfare through coordinated programs.

Juliantono described the partnership as a follow-up to President Prabowo Subianto’s call for stronger inter-agency collaboration.

“We need cooperation with ministries and state institutions to support the Red and White Village Cooperatives program,” he said.

He said the partnership is intended to maximize benefits for rural communities.

Under the agreement, business groups fostered by the population ministry could be upgraded into cooperatives.

Meanwhile, cooperatives under the KDMP program could help market and distribute products made by those business groups.

The agreement also covers cooperation in data sharing, advocacy, communications and promotion of family-based cooperatives.

It also encourages cooperatives to support broader family development programs.

The ministries are expected to draft a follow-up agreement detailing work plans, mechanisms, and each side’s responsibilities.