Jakarta, July 10 -- Deputy Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, has emphasized the importance of accurate data-driven implementation of the Red and White Village Cooperatives program.

In a statement released here on Thursday, he said that without valid data, it is feared that the program would fail to alleviate poverty in villages, even if the cooperatives are profitable.

He further said that precise village data must be the main basis for designing and implementing the village cooperatives program. Juliantono added that accurate data is vital for the government to create targeted public policies.

"Policies should not be made based on assumptions or fake data," he said.

The deputy minister cited the success of Chinese President...