Harkopnas 79: DEKOPIN Visits Bung Hatta's Grave and Engages Gen Z
Ahead of the 79th National Cooperative Day (Harkopnas), the central board of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (DEKOPIN) conducted a pilgrimage to the grave of Proclamation figure and Father of Indonesian Cooperatives, Mohammad Hatta (Bung Hatta), at the Tanah Kusir Public Cemetery in South Jakarta on Friday (10/7/2026). The event served as a moment of deep reflection on the national economic legacy.
Led by DEKOPIN executives, the pilgrimage was not merely an annual ritual but a step to retrace history and strengthen national commitment. At Bung Hatta’s resting place, the DEKOPIN family offered prayers together while contemplating the noble ideals of a mutual cooperation-based economy that forms a pillar of social justice for all Indonesian people.
DEKOPIN Secretary General Gilang Widya Pramana stressed the importance of making cooperatives relevant in the digital era. The man familiarly known as Juragan 99 stated that the key to the sustainability of the people’s economy now lies in the hands of Generation Z (Gen Z). As a concrete step, DEKOPIN launched a Brand Ambassador search programme for Gen Z to recruit talented young people as the modern face of cooperatives.
‘Bung Hatta founded cooperatives with a highly advanced vision of togetherness. Our task now is to translate that vision into the language and lifestyle of today’s youth,’ Gilang said. He added that Gen Z possesses high creativity and technological adaptability to bring cooperatives into the digital ecosystem. DEKOPIN is fully committed to rejuvenating the image of cooperatives so they are no longer perceived as outdated. Through technological innovation, cooperatives are expected to transform into the business vehicle of choice for young entrepreneurs.
The pilgrimage also involved finalists of the DEKOPIN Gen Z Brand Ambassador programme. Ridwan Sahroni, a finalist active on social media, expressed his pride after retracing the steps to Bung Hatta’s grave. He assessed that the value of mutual cooperation aligns perfectly with the collaborative spirit of today’s youth. ‘We are ready to package these noble cooperative values into creative, digital, and inclusive content. The goal is to make young people aware that cooperatives are the pillar of their economic future,’ Ridwan stated.
Through this year’s Harkopnas series, DEKOPIN invites all elements of the nation to view cooperatives not just as history, but as the foundation for shared prosperity in the future. The entire series of activities during ‘Cooperative Month’ in July 2026 is expected to boost broad public participation.