Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Prabowo Subianto underscored his commitment to strengthening cooperatives as a pillar of Indonesia’s transformation toward a Pancasila-based economy aimed at delivering equitable welfare and development nationwide.“Cooperatives must be strengthened. Cooperatives must rise up. Cooperatives are one of the tools for elevating our people, bringing them out of poverty and powerlessness. It is crucial that we bolster small and medium enterprises while positioning villages as new economic growth epicenters,” he said.Prabowo promoted what he describes as the Pancasila economy during a ceremony marking the 81st anniversary of the state ideology in Jakarta on Monday morning.Speaking before national figures, he emphasized that economic development must directly affect residents across the country rather than merely improving statistical indicators.He affirmed that the people reserve the right to become the drivers of development, warning against treating them as mere objects.The Pancasila economy, he continued, aims to actualize social justice for all, an ideal enshrined in the fifth principle of Pancasila.“Economic growth must go in tandem with equality. Progress must be felt by all citizens of Indonesia,” he stated.Furthermore, the head of state called on all elements of society not to narrowly view Pancasila as a slogan or historic document. He said the ideology acts as a set of guiding principles in state affairs across various spheres, including economics.“Our economy must be centered on national interests and the people’s good. Our economy should not benefit only a few,” he stressed.In this regard, Prabowo called for efforts to enable the people to reap greater benefits from natural resource extraction, curbing the outflow of economic gains abroad.The remarks were delivered during a Pancasila Day ceremony, attended by Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, former vice presidents Jusuf Kalla and Ma’ruf Amin, and other national figures.