Ministry of Cooperatives and MUI Sign Cooperation Agreement for Empowering the Community's Economy through Cooperatives

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) has forged a cooperation agreement with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) aimed at empowering the community’s economy through cooperatives.

Cooperative Minister Ferry Juliantono, when met in Jakarta on Tuesday, stated that the cooperation encompasses training for human resources (HR) or cooperative personnel and financing through the Revolving Fund Management Institution (LPDB), up to the distribution of products made by communities under MUI’s auspices to Village/Urban Village Red and White Cooperatives.

“The cooperation will involve training and assistance from the Revolving Fund Management Institution for products produced by Islamic organisations under the Indonesian Ulema Council,” said Ferry.

Furthermore, he mentioned that they will collaborate with MUI to strengthen the focus of these economic da’wah activities.

“In the context of these economic da’wah activities in the real sector, we will encourage the potentials within the Indonesian Ulema Council, from the Ministry of Cooperatives and from LPDB; we are starting now to build economic strength in the real sector through cooperatives,” stated the Minister.

In addition, Ferry said that the Ministry will also promote the Indonesian Cooperative Institute (Ikopin) and cooperatives in pesantren to produce modern and relevant cooperative HR.

“Besides LPDB, there is also the Indonesian Cooperative Institute which can serve as a place or container to train modern and competent managers, who we can then place, including in cooperatives that we will establish in pondok pesantren or mosque cooperatives owned by the Indonesian Ulema Council along with its affiliated Islamic organisations,” explained Minister Ferry.

Meanwhile, MUI’s Deputy General Chairman Cholil Nafis stated that his side welcomes the cooperation with the Ministry of Cooperatives to stimulate the community’s economy.

“We at the Indonesian Ulema Council, together with the Ministry of Cooperatives, both through the strength of pesantren, Islamic education, mosques, and all potentials in the community under these organisations, will unite them in the form of supporting cooperative personnel,” said Cholil.

“Additionally, financing, insha’Allah, will not be difficult, and the products we have will also not be difficult for sales and distribution,” he added.