MPR Speaker: Kopdes Programme Aligns with Constitutional Economic Vision

People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Ahmad Muzani highlighted the Village Cooperative (Kopdes) programme during the MPR Annual Session on Friday. He stated that the Indonesian constitution mandates that the economy be structured as a collective endeavour based on the principle of kinship. “This mandate shows that Indonesia’s economic development must not be left solely to free competition, which makes the strong more powerful and sidelines the weak,” Muzani said. He described cooperatives as a means of bringing democracy into economic life. “Through professionally managed cooperatives, farmers can strengthen their bargaining position, fishermen can gain market access, and micro-enterprises can develop. The distribution of essential goods can be shortened, and the added value of the economy can be enjoyed by the community,” he explained. Muzani assessed that a cooperative is not merely a business entity but also a spirit of collective progress. He concluded that the success of a cooperative is measured by the growth of productive economic activity, increased member income, strong governance, and greater community self-reliance.