Jakarta, July 1 -- President Prabowo Subianto has set a target for all cooperatives established under the Red and White Village Cooperatives program to begin operations by the end of this year, Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi stated.

"Thus far, some 80 thousand village cooperatives have been set up, and all of them are expected to begin operating within this year," he told the media at the Manpower Ministry Headquarters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Setiadi noted that the head of state issued the instruction during a recent cabinet meeting.

"Since the cooperative establishment phase has been completed, we are now moving into the second phase, which focuses on initiating business activities," he remarked.

Earlier, in Jakarta on Monday...