President Prabowo Subianto Affirms Cooperatives as Pillars of People-Centered Economy at 79th National Cooperative Day
President Prabowo Subianto has reaffirmed that cooperatives are a key pillar in building a people-centered economy capable of strengthening the nation’s overall economic capacity.
The President made the statement during the Peak Commemoration of 79th National Cooperative Day at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, Sunday (07/12).
“Indonesia is a large country. We need cooperatives. We need MSMEs, the private sector, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and regionally owned enterprises (ROEs). We need all of them. They must form our national economic force. That is what I mean by Indonesia Incorporated,” the President stated.
In his remarks, the President emphasized that Indonesia’s economic development must return to the vision of the nation’s founding fathers, in which an economy grounded in the spirit of kinship provides equal opportunities for all people to prosper.
The Head of State also explained that national economic development must remain anchored in the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, which places the welfare of the people as its ultimate goal.
“We have long strived to steer our economic development back to the path envisioned by our founding fathers, an economy based on the principle of kinship, a people-centered economy in which every element has a role and is given the opportunity [to contribute],” the President remarked.
The President further underscored that strengthening cooperatives does not come at the expense of other business sectors. Rather, he added, Indonesia needs stronger synergy among cooperatives, MSMEs, SOEs, regionally owned enterprises, and the private sector to ensure balanced national economic growth.
“Cooperatives are one of the pillars [of our economy]. Strengthening cooperatives does not mean weakening others. On the contrary, we will strengthen them all,” the President stated.
According to the President, cooperatives serve as a strategic platform for the people to consolidate their economic resources. With the spirit of gotong royong (mutual cooperation), the President expressed confidence that cooperatives can become a driving force for economic growth that delivers direct benefits to their members while strengthening the national economy.
“Like a broom made of palm rib stick, a single stick is weak, but when bound together, they will become strong. Ladies and gentlemen, do not worry, the Indonesian cooperative movement will rise to become a powerful force in our economy,” the President said.
The President also expressed optimism that a stronger cooperative movement would stimulate greater economic activity across regions. Growth from villages to the regency level is expected to improve people’s welfare while ensuring that economic added value remains in the hands of the Indonesian people.
“Our economy will grow from villages, sub-districts, and regencies, and the money will remain there. We will turn it around. For too long, the wealth of the Indonesian people has been drained away. Now we will return it. The economy will flow back to the people,” the President concluded. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (YA/EP)
