National Cooperative Day has marked a new chapter in the direction of Indonesia's economic policy. Under the leadership of President Prabowo Subianto, the government is placing the strengthening of rural-based economies at the top of its agenda. A concrete manifestation of this strategy is the optimization of the "Merah Putih" (Red and White) Village/Sub-district Cooperatives.

This strategic move has garnered strong endorsement from the academic community. Professor Achmad Tjachja Nugraha,a prominent Professor of Agribusiness from the Agribusiness Study Program at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, noted that President Prabowo’s decision to prioritize grassroots cooperatives serves as a direct implementation of the state constitution.

"This policy aligns perfectly with the spirit of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which positions cooperatives as the main pillar of the national economy. Strengthening our national economy must begin by revitalizing the livelihoods of village residents. When the rural economy is robust, our macroeconomic foundation will naturally become far more resilient," Prof. Achmad explained in a statement.

According to Prof. Achmad, any economic development model that neglects rural areas will only produce a fragile national economic structure. Therefore, transforming local institutions like cooperatives is seen as the most ideal driver for widespread community welfare.