Serang (ANTARA) - Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Minister Yandri Susanto has said that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) can be developed based on the unique potential of each village.“The Merah Putih Village Cooperatives may be developed according to the potential of each village as a cooperative business, but the mandatory (functions) must also be carried out,” he added while handing over the deed for a Kopdes in Serang district, Banten, on Wednesday.
According to Susanto, the Kopdes can resort to any money-making activity to ensure their smooth running. He further said that starting this month, each Kopdes can take out loan capital at low interest rates thanks to a subsidy provided by the government.
“Bank Emok (informal money lenders) and middlemen will be cut by the Kopdes, and all the cooperative administrators must ensure this so that the Kopdes can really be run,” he added.
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The minister also lauded all villages in Serang, which have formed and completed the deed for establishing Kopdes.
“So, we are optimistic that poverty in Serang district, in the villages, will be resolved and in accordance with the President’s (Prabowo Subianto) second Asta Cita (mission), namely economic equality and poverty alleviation, and it will be achieved,” he affirmed.
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Susanto said he hopes that villages in Serang can become the main actors helping achieve food security at the rural level through the Kopdes.
