KP2MI Encourages Cooperatives to Strengthen Migrant Workers' Economy

The Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) is encouraging the strengthening of cooperatives as a strategic step to expand economic opportunities for the public, including Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) and their families, through sustainable empowerment programmes. Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin stated this whilst attending the peak of the 79th National Cooperative Day (Harkopnas) commemoration, led directly by President Prabowo Subianto at the Indonesia Arena, Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), Jakarta, on Sunday. “Strengthening cooperatives will open more economic opportunities for the public, including for Indonesian migrant workers and their families through various sustainable economic empowerment programmes,” he said. He stated that this year’s Harkopnas theme, “Empowered Cooperatives, Glorious Indonesia,” reflects the spirit of synergy and mutual cooperation that forms the foundation of cooperative development in Indonesia. Mukhtarudin also expressed support for the government’s move, under President Prabowo Subianto’s leadership, to strengthen the cooperative movement as one of the drivers of the people’s economy. According to him, the values of togetherness, mutual cooperation, and independence that are the spirit of cooperatives align with efforts to empower Indonesian migrant workers and their families. This collective spirit, he continued, is in line with KP2MI’s mission to develop community-based economic empowerment for former migrant workers, enabling them to build businesses and become self-reliant after returning to their homeland. “Cooperatives are a pillar of the nation’s economic resilience based on the principle of kinship. We want to ensure this collective bond also becomes a platform for our migrant workers, so that upon returning to their homeland, they have a strong, productive economic ecosystem capable of supporting family welfare towards a Golden Indonesia,” he said. Mukhtarudin expressed hope that cooperatives can increasingly serve as the backbone of the people’s economy while accelerating the realisation of the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision through inclusive and equitable growth. He affirmed that KP2MI will continue to strengthen synergy with the Ministry of Cooperatives and various stakeholders to integrate the potential of cooperatives into economic protection and empowerment programmes for Indonesian migrant worker communities across all regions.