RRI.CO.ID, Pamekasan – Indonesia's Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, commended the East Java Provincial Government for supporting local cooperatives during the 79th Cooperatives Day peak event in Pamekasan Regency, East Java, on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. The national government expressed strong appreciation for the province's commitment to advancing economic growth through grassroots cooperative initiatives.

The grand celebration served as a major opportunity to strengthen public participation and boost economic development across East Java. The presence of provincial leaders, regional heads, and business representatives highlighted the collective synergy in driving local enterprise.

“On behalf of the government and the entire Ministry of Cooperatives and the Cooperative Movement, we are deeply moved and honored that the Governor and all regency and city heads throughout East Java have given their full support to the events commemorating the 79th Cooperative Day,” he said before thousands of guests.

East Java’s Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDKMP) recorded the highest transaction values and performance metrics nationwide, proving their effectiveness as economic engines. In response to these outstanding results, the ministry announced plans to present special recognitions during the upcoming national Cooperative Award.

“The government and the extended family of the Ministry of Cooperatives are proud that East Java has proven that KDKMP is capable of serving as a real driver of the economy at the grassroots level,” Ferry said.

Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa emphasized that the success of East Java's cooperatives stems from strong cross-sector collaboration among local authorities, financial institutions, and community leaders. She noted that cooperatives and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contributed 60 percent to East Java’s economic growth, which reached 5.9 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

“The role of cooperatives and MSMEs in East Java is extraordinary. Let’s work together to preserve them and improve their governance so that cooperatives become more modern and professional,” the governor said.

East Java also set a national record by legalizing 8,494 KDKMP entities faster than any other region. To support continuous growth, the provincial government distributed cash rewards totaling 1.9 billion rupiah to the top ten performing village cooperatives across the province.