Government Encourages Access to Indonesian Cooperative Markets, Exploring Global Partnerships

Fri, 15 May 2026, 18:05 WIB | By indrastuti | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Trade

The Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) is encouraging access to Indonesian cooperative markets through business matching with businesses and importers from South Korea at the Smart Factory Innobiz Korea event in COEX, Seoul, South Korea.

This initiative has been welcomed by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of South Korea as a step to strengthen business networks and Indonesia-Korea cooperation.

Kana Consumer Cooperative was also invited to explore trade cooperation with potential South Korean business partners as part of the Smart Factory event.

The activity is related to the Korea-Indonesia Smart Factory ODA cooperation, which focuses on strengthening business capacity, industrial transformation, and improving the competitiveness of businesses through the use of technology.

Deputy for Institutional and Digitalization of Cooperatives at Kemenkop, Henra Saragih, stated that during the event, Kemenkop encouraged that the industrial transformation agenda should not only target large businesses.

“Cooperatives also need to be given space to enter the modern business ecosystem by strengthening networks, providing institutional support, and access to potential international business partners,” said Henra, Thursday (May 14, 2026).

According to Henra, through this activity, Kemenkop wants to show that cooperatives have the opportunity to enter the global supply chain. Therefore, cooperatives should not only be strong in the domestic market.

“Cooperatives also need to prepare product quality, production capacity, quality standards, and professional business management in order to compete in the export market,” said Henra.

He said that this activity is also part of the government’s support to bring Indonesian cooperatives to the next level. Cooperatives must frequently participate in international business forums. In this way, cooperatives can understand global market needs, build business networks, and communicate directly with potential buyers.

“Through this business matching, we want to encourage cooperatives to be better prepared to enter the export market. Kana Consumer Cooperative has the opportunity to expand its trading network and introduce Indonesian products to South Korean importers,” said Henra.

Henra added that Indonesian cooperatives need to continue to strengthen institutional capacity and business digitalization. According to him, cooperatives that are managed with good governance, are adaptive to technology, and can meet market standards will have a greater opportunity to compete in the global market.

He also hopes that this business matching activity will produce concrete follow-up actions. These follow-up actions can include further trade communication, sending product samples, adjusting quality standards, to exploring export contracts with South Korean importers.

“Through this activity, Kemenkop reaffirms the government’s commitment to continue encouraging Indonesian cooperatives to be more adaptive, competitive, and able to reach global markets,” concluded Henra.

On that occasion, Chairman of Kana Consumer Cooperative, Jonathan Danang Wardhana, explained that Kana Consumer Cooperative is one of the cooperatives that has started to strengthen business management in a more modern way.

“Strengthening management, product development, improving business services, and the ability to understand market needs are important assets for Kana to expand its business reach to the global market,” he said.

He explained that in the meeting between Kana Consumer Cooperative and South Korean importers, several things were discussed, starting from product potential, market needs, quality standards, supply readiness, shipping schemes, to opportunities for long-term cooperation.

Jonathan also welcomed the activity. He said that this meeting provided an opportunity for Kana to better understand the needs of the South Korean market and also open up opportunities for more targeted cooperation. “This opportunity is an important step for us to expand the market, improve the quality of products and business services, and build sustainable trade cooperation with South Korean importers,” said Jonathan. (H-2)

The Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Ferry Juliantono emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in accelerating the economic independence of villages.

The Deputy Minister of Cooperatives, Farida Farichah, encouraged the Agro Mulyo Lestari Cooperative in East Lampung to become a pillar of the economy through digitalization and financing of 3 percent from the LPDB.

During its three-year journey, Kana Cooperative has strived to build a forum based on togetherness, mutual cooperation, and member trust.

The President, Prabowo Subianto, revealed the government’s grand plan to strengthen the people’s economy through the development of cooperatives on a massive scale.

This visit aims to see directly how cooperatives manage their businesses, empower their members, and maintain a balance between social functions and economic activities.

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