Cooperative Ministry Partners with KMDT to Develop Cooperative-Based Economy in Lake Toba
The Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) is collaborating with the Lake Toba Community Committee (KMDT) to accelerate economic development for the community in the Lake Toba region, North Sumatra. This move is aimed at strengthening local commodities and developing regional tourism potential through the cooperative framework.
The Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, announced this following an audience with the General Chairman of the KMDT Central Executive Board, Edison Manurung, along with members of the KMDT Sejahtera Marketing Cooperative, at the Ministry of Cooperatives office in Jakarta on Thursday (1/10).
During the meeting, Ferry received an Ulos cloth award and expressed his willingness to serve as the Chairman of the KMDT Advisory Board.
“This will be a joint struggle between the Ministry of Cooperatives and the KMDT, specifically for the development of cooperatives and the community in Lake Toba. The scope of activities is to ensure that products from the local community, such as coffee, peanuts, as well as Ulos weaving crafts and culinary products, are based on cooperatives,” Ferry stated in a written release on Thursday (1/10/2026).
Ferry emphasised the importance of having business entities in the form of cooperatives so that the economic activities of villagers can be mentored, incubated, and even financed through the Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB).
Furthermore, this cooperative-based economic development model in Lake Toba is projected to become a role model for other lake regions across Indonesia.
“From our discussions today, we aim to organise the Lake Toba Festival again within the next one or two years,” he said.
The General Chairman of the KMDT Central Executive Board, Edison Manurung, explained that several KMDT priority programmes include promoting world-class tourism, developing superior human resources by introducing cooperatives to university environments, and optimising the presence of the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in the region.
“Our programme focuses on tourism and the creation of superior human resources through collaboration with universities, as we have done at HKBP Nommensen University and the University of Sumatera Utara (USU). On 6 October, the series of activities will also include public lectures at Sisingamangaraja University and an inspection of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in Toba Regency,” he revealed.
Edison also added that various flagship local products, such as coffee, Sihobuk peanuts, and tipa-tipa, will receive regular mentoring and training from the Ministry of Cooperatives to ensure that local MSME players within the KMDT network can continue to grow.
Additionally, the Deputy for Cooperative Business Development of Panel Barus was also present to accompany the Minister.