Minister Ferry: Cooperative Success Must Also Be Measured by Benefits to Society
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono spoke about the cooperative spirit inherited from the Father of Indonesian Cooperatives, Mohammad Hatta. He said the essence of cooperatives must return to tangible benefits for society, not merely the scale of the organisation.
“I want cooperative success to no longer be measured only by how large the organisation is, but also by its benefits to society. And that is where Bung Hatta’s spirit finds its relevance again today,” said Ferry Juliantono at the St Regis Hotel, South Jakarta, on Thursday evening (20/8/2026).
The event was attended directly by Bung Hatta’s family. Ferry said the presence of Bung Hatta’s family served as a reminder that cooperatives are a grand idea about people’s economy.
“This reminds us of one important thing: that cooperatives are not merely business entities, but an idea about how the economy is built through togetherness and mutual cooperation to improve the welfare of members and provide benefits to society,” he said.
Ferry added that the presentation of awards at the Koperasi Awards 2026 was a form of government appreciation as well as recognition for those who consistently safeguard the legacy of Bung Hatta’s values.
“This award is not merely about who receives the award, but also recognition of those who consistently work and, of course, continue Bung Hatta’s ideals,” he added.
On the occasion, Ferry also outlined his ministry’s responsibility in fostering around 130,000 existing cooperatives. One of the main focuses is implementing the national priority programme mandated by President Prabowo Subianto.
“We want cooperatives to be present close to the community and also become a tool to consolidate the potential of the community, including through the programme from the President, the national priority programme, which is about the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih,” Ferry explained.
He expressed hope that cooperatives can stand on equal footing with other business entities, both state-owned and private, in strengthening the national economy. Therefore, modernising the cooperative movement is an important undertaking.
“To the entire cooperative movement in Indonesia, let us continue this journey with real work and strengthen and modernise cooperatives in Indonesia,” said Ferry.
“Let us continue the great ideals of Bung Hatta and the nation’s founders, strengthen the cooperative movement in Indonesia, and realise cooperatives that are healthy, independent, professional, and capable of delivering tangible benefits to society,” he concluded.
Also in attendance were Founder & Chairman of CT Corp Chairul Tanjung, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas, Deputy Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Tandyo Budi Revita, and Chairman of Committee IV of the Regional Representative Council AA Ahmad Nawardi. Also present were Deputy Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Admiral (Ret.) Didit Herdiawan and Junior Attorney General for Intelligence at the Attorney General’s Office Reda Manthovani.