South Sumatra Governor Lauds KUD Sejahtera CPO Mill as Cooperative Milestone
South Sumatra Governor H. Herman Deru has hailed the establishment of the KUD Sejahtera Crude Palm Oil (CPO) mill in Musi Banyuasin Regency as a new milestone in the revival of regional cooperatives. He stated that the cooperative has boldly demonstrated its capability by developing a modern business unit that adds value for its members.
Herman Deru made the remarks during the inauguration of the KUD Sejahtera CPO mill in Beruge Village, Babat Toman District, on Wednesday (12/8). The event was attended by Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono and Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman. “In South Sumatra, KUD Sejahtera has bravely shown its prowess through the inauguration of this palm oil mill. This is a source of pride and a motivation for other cooperatives to continue growing,” he said in a written statement on Thursday (13/8/2026).
He noted that the presence of the Minister and the Presidential Chief of Staff reflects the government’s serious attention to strengthening cooperatives under the administration of President Prabowo Subianto. The spirit of the President to restore cooperatives as the backbone of the national economy is now being realised through various strategic programmes.
Beyond infrastructure, Herman Deru emphasised the need to improve human resource quality. He has instructed all schools in South Sumatra to integrate cooperative studies into the curriculum. This initiative is a precursor to making cooperatives a mandatory local content subject, aiming to instil an understanding of the people’s economy in the younger generation from an early age.
Herman Deru also stressed the importance of strengthening villages as robust economic centres. He asserted that cooperatives must master the market, information, and technology to become highly competitive. In line with this, the South Sumatra Provincial Government is committed to pushing for the downstream processing of various regional commodities.
Presidential Chief of Staff Dudung Abdurachman gave his full support to the plan, particularly the downstream processing of coffee from the Dempo area. He believes that downstream processing will significantly increase the added value of commodities and strengthen the local economy. “The national economic cycle must start from the village through cooperatives. The Koperasi Merah Putih programme is President Prabowo’s directive to strengthen the people’s economy and stabilise market prices,” Dudung stated.
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono also expressed his appreciation for the inauguration of the KUD Sejahtera CPO mill, describing it as an ideal model for cooperative-based palm oil downstream processing. He confirmed his party’s support for the South Sumatra government’s plan to make cooperatives a mandatory local content subject in schools. The event concluded with the symbolic signing of an inscription and a direct inspection of the mill’s operational area.