Surabaya (ANTARA) - East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa urged state-run logistics company Bulog to distribute staple commodities to rural areas through cooperatives established under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program to help achieve equitable economic development.
“Red and White Village Cooperatives are a symbol of the economic strength of rural regions. For these business entities to deliver real impact, we need Bulog to ensure stable, direct supplies of basic goods, thereby shortening distribution chains,” she said.
In a statement cited in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday, the governor noted that a total of 8,494 village cooperatives in cities and districts across the province had been registered as legal business entities.
She added that the next goal is to improve the quality of human resources and distribution systems while identifying the most suitable business models.
She then underlined that Bulog can contribute to this goal by directly distributing strategic commodities, particularly rice, sugar, and cooking oil through the cooperatives. Meanwhile, fertilizers and LPG can be supplied by other state-owned enterprises, she added.
“This is how the state shows its presence among the people,” Parawansa stressed.
Furthermore, the governor highlighted the importance of simplifying procedures and requirements for village cooperatives to access supplies from Bulog.
“This is not just an economic initiative — it is part of our collective effort to provide residents with affordable basic necessities,” she said.
She also revealed that the East Java provincial government would soon convene a technical coordination meeting with Bulog and other relevant stakeholders to formulate a road map for growing the cooperatives.
Meanwhile, Head of Bulog’s East Java Office, Langgeng Wisnu Adi Nugroho, emphasized that his company is ready to directly distribute basic goods to the public through the Red and White Village Cooperatives.
“This is part of our strategy to broaden access to staple commodities, support price stabilization in villages, and strengthen the people’s economy,” he said.
