1,483 Cooperatives Completed in East Java, Ready for Operation

A total of 1,483 village/sub-district "Koperasi Merah Putih" (Red and White Cooperatives) in the East Java region of Indonesia have been fully completed and are poised for operation. Some of these cooperatives have already begun functioning, according to Colonel Arm Untoro Hariyanto, Commander of the 081/DSJ Military Resort Command.

These newly established cooperatives are situated across nine regencies and two cities within the Korem 081/DSJ's jurisdiction, including Pacitan, Ponorogo, Madiun, Magetan, Ngawi, Trenggalek, Tulungagung, Blitar, and Nganjuk. Colonel Untoro highlighted that the completion of these cooperatives demonstrates the commitment and hard work of the military units in supporting their rapid development.

The initiative aims to provide tangible benefits to local communities, particularly by creating employment opportunities. Colonel Untoro emphasized that priority for hiring cooperative staff should be given to local residents. He also stressed the importance of managing the cooperatives professionally, transparently, and with a focus on enhancing community welfare.

The Indonesian military (TNI) played a role in the construction of the cooperative outlets and warehouses. This involvement falls under non-military operations other than war (OMSP) and supports the regional government's national development and community welfare programs. The TNI's participation in building these physical facilities was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with PT Agrinas Pangan (Persero), a state-owned enterprise tasked by the government with developing the necessary infrastructure for these village cooperatives.

With the successful completion of construction, the Korem 081/DSJ is committed to overseeing and encouraging the prompt operationalization of all these cooperatives to ensure they deliver widespread benefits to the community.