Minister of Cooperatives Supports Strengthening Mosque-Based Cooperatives
The Ministry of Cooperatives has endorsed the strengthening of mosque-based cooperatives as centres for economic circulation within Muslim communities.
During the inauguration of the Mosque-Loving Community Cooperative (MCMI) at Sunda Kelapa Mosque in Jakarta on Saturday, 14 March, Minister Ferry Juliantono stressed that mosques should not function solely as places of religious worship, but also serve as centres for economic community empowerment.
The Ministry of Cooperatives is committed to providing full accompaniment, mentorship, and access to financing for mosque-based cooperatives. The ministry’s Revolving Fund Management Agency (LPDB) is prepared to assist in developing MCMI cooperative activities.
The Ministry of Cooperatives is ready to collaborate with the Indonesian Mosque Council (DMI) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs in systematically developing a roadmap for mosque cooperative development. The cooperative’s role ties to the broader Red-and-White Village/Sub-Village Cooperative (Kopdes) development programme, which is establishing 83,000 cooperative centres across Indonesia. Currently, 32,000 physical structures are under construction, with 2,200 completed.
The Minister has encouraged mosque-based cooperatives to serve as producers of essential goods marketed through the Kopdes retail network. Many small and micro-enterprises around mosques currently operate individually and remain vulnerable to marginalisation due to lacking formal business status. Cooperatives provide both a legal framework offering access to capital and legal protection.
According to Wisnu Dewanto, Chairman of the MCMI Central Board, the mosque ecosystem holds tremendous potential for community empowerment. With approximately 900,000 mosques across Indonesia, inter-ministerial cooperation is expected to deliver significant impact. The MCMI Cooperative is currently mentoring at least 100 micro-entrepreneurs around Sunda Kelapa Mosque through partnerships with various partners.