Jakarta, July 4 -- Cooperatives Minister Budi Arie Setiadi has emphasized the importance of Red and White Village Cooperatives transforming into productive business entities.

During a meeting on the business strengthening of West Java's Red and White Village Cooperatives, which was followed online from here on Thursday, he said that village cooperatives must seek to become economic entities that can meet people's needs.

"Cooperatives must become institutions that serve the needs of residents, from affordable staple goods, affordable financing, health services, to logistics distribution," he added, according to a statement issued by his ministry.

Based on national statistical data, so far, 80,480 Red and White Village Cooperatives have ...