Jakarta, Feb. 21 -- Indonesia's Trade Ministry said any expansion of modern convenience stores must comply with existing regulations, pushing back against proposals to curb outlets in villages as the government promotes Red and White Village Cooperatives.

The statement was delivered by Domestic Trade Director General Iqbal Shoffan Shofwan in response to plans to limit the spread of modern retail stores in rural areas to protect village-based cooperatives.

"Supermarkets and similar retail stores are trading facilities already regulated under Law No. 7 of 2014 on Trade and Government Regulation No. 29 of 2021," he said Saturday.

Government Regulation No. 29/2021 defines supermarkets as self-service retail outlets selling a range of goods...