The fate of cooperatives

Although the movement is now 49 years old, our cooperatives are in a lamentable state, neither alive nor dead. This is implicit in the comments made by Minister for Cooperatives and Small Business Development Subiakto Tjakrawerdaya. In terms of numbers the situation is impressive. There are at present about 42,000 cooperatives with more than 33 million members. In terms of quality, however, our cooperatives are still poor.

Cooperatives should be encouraged to grow without being undermined by their own management and a lack of public spirit. The partnership system promoted by the Jimbaran Group (of large businesses) and the donation of a part of the profits made by state-owned enterprises has considerable potential for the growth of cooperatives in the future.

-- Bisnis Indonesia, Jakarta