Central Java Secretary Calls for Collective Support to Revive Cooperatives

Central Java Regional Secretary Sumarno has invited all parties to jointly support the revival of cooperatives in the region, which is currently being promoted by the government, including through the Koperasi Merah Putih (Red and White Cooperative) programme. “The government is keen to revive cooperatives. Let us all support this together. Cooperatives cannot develop without backing from all parties,” he said in Surakarta on Sunday. He made the statement after flagging off thousands of participants in the UMKM Runwalk event held to commemorate the 79th Cooperative Day at the Central Java provincial level, in the Manahan Stadium area, Surakarta City. According to him, the success of building cooperatives depends not only on the government but also requires support from various parties, ranging from the business sector and academics to the wider community. Therefore, he said, the Cooperative Day momentum should be used to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders. “Hopefully, by commemorating this 79th anniversary, it will become the initial momentum for us to jointly build strong cooperatives that truly bring prosperity to their members,” he said, accompanied by Surakarta Mayor Respati Ardianto. The activity was attended by around 2,000 participants who not only exercised but also 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 officials from cooperative and SME agencies, private cooperatives, and the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDKMP). They covered a 2.7-kilometre route around the Manahan Stadium complex. Meanwhile, Acting Head of the Central Java Cooperative and SME Agency Desi Arijani said the UMKM Runwalk concluded the entire series of events for the 79th Cooperative Day at the provincial level. Previously, the Cooperative Day commemoration had featured exhibitions of cooperative and SME products, discussions, a tirakatan (traditional vigil), and cultural performances involving the cooperative movement from various regions. She expressed appreciation for the support from regional agencies, vertical institutions, the cooperative movement, the business sector, academics, and all parties who had made the series of activities a success. It is hoped that the spirit of collaboration built during the Cooperative Day commemoration will strengthen the transformation of cooperatives to become more adaptive, professional, and capable of improving community welfare. “We hope that the synergy between the government and the cooperative movement will continue to be fostered in order to realise a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economy in Central Java. Cooperatives empowered, Indonesia triumphant,” she said.