Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has partnered with a Canadian cooperative body to strengthen its village-based economic program, aiming to improve governance, skills and long-term sustainability across rural enterprises.The Ministry of Cooperatives signed a memorandum of understanding with the Cooperative Development Foundation (CDF) of Canada on Thursday, formalizing collaboration to support the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) initiative.“We aim to learn from Canada’s cooperative success stories to advance Indonesian cooperatives, particularly those under the KDMP program,” Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said at the signing ceremony in Jakarta.He said the partnership will focus on upgrading human capital and reinforcing institutional capacity, key gaps that have limited the performance of cooperatives in Indonesia.“Our cooperation will prioritize strengthening the capabilities of cooperative personnel, as well as small and medium enterprises that supply goods to these cooperatives,” Juliantono added.The minister described CDF as a strategic partner, pointing to Canada’s long-standing track record in building a cohesive cooperative ecosystem spanning production, distribution and retail networks.Canadian cooperatives are consistently represented among the top 300 globally in the World Cooperative Monitor, underscoring their scale and resilience, he said.Beyond technical cooperation, Juliantono noted the agreement is expected to deepen broader bilateral ties, particularly in inclusive economic development and grassroots empowerment.For its part, CDF welcomed the partnership, signaling readiness to contribute practical expertise and operational insights to Indonesia’s cooperative sector.Executive Director Benoit Andre said the foundation is committed to sharing best practices to help improve governance standards, business models and sustainability of local cooperatives.The initiative is designed to create a structured platform for knowledge exchange, including training, mentoring and institutional development programs tailored to Indonesia’s needs.The ministry said the collaboration will ultimately support the KDMP program’s goal of boosting rural economies by improving access to finance, supply chains and essential services at the village level.By leveraging international experience, Indonesia aims to accelerate cooperative reform and position the sector as a key driver of inclusive growth.