Luthfi Urges Cooperatives in Central Java to Help Communities Escape Online Loans and Loan Sharks

Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has requested that cooperatives in his province help the community escape the clutches of online loans (pinjol) and loan sharks. Luthfi conveyed this during his attendance at the Regional Coordination Meeting of the Indonesian Cooperative Council Region (Dekopinwil) Central Java at Wisma Perdamaian in Semarang City on Tuesday (14/4/2026).

Luthfi revealed that the number of active cooperatives in Central Java is quite substantial, reaching 19,022 with 6.8 million members. Meanwhile, their asset value is nearly Rp60 trillion. He hopes that these cooperatives not only empower their members but also assist the surrounding community.

“For example, with the existence of cooperatives, those funds can be channelled to the regions; pinjol and loan sharks will be eliminated by our cooperatives. Especially under the control of Dekopinwil, which is present today, whose management consists of cooperative experts in the Central Java region,” Luthfi stated.

The Dekopinwil Central Java Regional Coordination Meeting was also attended by Cooperative Minister Ferry Juliantono. To Ferry, Luthfi reported that 8,523 Red and White Cooperatives in Central Java have obtained legal entity status. “Of which 6,271 have become operational,” he said.

Luthfi hopes that the Red and White Cooperatives can strengthen village economies. “Villages are the most remote development destinations in our region. With the Red and White Cooperatives, it will add colour to village communities,” Luthfi stated.

He asked Dekopinwil Central Java to actively participate in empowering cooperatives in Central Java. “At minimum, operational activities will provide added value to cooperatives in general and specifically to the Red and White Cooperatives,” he said.