Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Cooperatives renewed its commitment to support around 130,000 existing cooperatives across Indonesia alongside the Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) program to strengthen the national economy.”The Ministry of Cooperatives is responsible for assisting existing cooperatives,” Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono remarked during the 2026 Koperasi Awards in Jakarta on Thursday night (August 20).He noted that government support focuses on capacity-building initiatives to help cooperatives improve management and competitiveness, enabling them to grow into trusted business entities.Juliantono said this approach reflects equal commitment to existing cooperatives, dismissing views that the government focuses solely on new units under the KDMP program.The minister emphasized that all cooperatives must tap into community economic potential to catalyze equitable development across the country.Enhancing professionalism, service quality, and adaptability remains key for Indonesian cooperatives to boost their national economic contributions, he added.”We want cooperatives to remain close to communities as instruments to consolidate local potential,” Juliantono said.He added that President Prabowo Subianto initiated the KDMP program to help achieve that objective.Furthermore, the minister called on cooperatives nationwide to support strategic national programs by strengthening institutional frameworks and operator capacity.He also urged cooperatives to build partnerships with state-owned and private enterprises to create an integrated business ecosystem.Realizing inclusive and sustainable growth requires professional, self-reliant, and innovative cooperatives, he noted.