Central Java Secretary Calls for Collective Support to Revive Cooperatives
Semarang (ANTARA) - Central Java Regional Secretary Sumarno has invited all parties to jointly support (“sengkuyung”) the revival of cooperatives in the region, which is currently being driven by the government, notably through the Red-and-White Cooperative (Koperasi Merah Putih).
“The government wants to revive cooperatives. Let us support this together. Cooperatives cannot develop without the backing of all parties,” he said in Surakarta on Sunday.
He made the remarks after seeing off thousands of participants of the MSME Runwalk held to commemorate the 79th Cooperative Day at provincial level in Central Java, in the area around Manahan Stadium in Surakarta.
According to him, successfully building cooperatives depends not only on the government but also requires support from various parties, from the business world and academics to the wider community.
Therefore, he said, the momentum of Cooperative Day should be used to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders.
“Hopefully, by commemorating this 79th anniversary, it becomes a starting point for us to jointly build strong cooperatives that genuinely improve the welfare of their members,” he said, accompanied by Surakarta Mayor Respati Ardianto.
The event was attended by around 2,000 participants who did not merely exercise but carried a shared spirit to strengthen the cooperative movement as a pillar of the people’s economy.
The participants came from 35 regencies and cities, comprising cooperative and SME offices, private cooperatives, and the Red-and-White Village and Neighbourhood Cooperatives (KDKMP).
They covered a 2.7-kilometre route around the Manahan Stadium area.
Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Central Java Cooperative and SME Office Desi Arijani said the MSME Runwalk marked the close of the entire series of events for the 79th Cooperative Day at provincial level in Central Java.
Earlier, the commemoration had featured cooperative and MSME product exhibitions, seminars, spiritual gatherings, and cultural showcases involving cooperative movements from various regions.
She expressed appreciation for the support of regional apparatus, vertical agencies, the cooperative movement, the business world, academics, and all parties who contributed to the success of the event series.
It is hoped that the collaborative spirit built during the Cooperative Day commemoration will strengthen the transformation of cooperatives so they become more adaptive and professional, and better able to improve public welfare.
“We hope that the synergy between the government and the cooperative movement will continue, to realise a Central Java economy that is resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. When cooperatives are empowered, Indonesia prevails,” she said.