Jakarta, May 18 -- Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that a total of 1,061 Red and White Village Cooperatives (KDMP) in East Java and Central Java have begun operations and are set to absorb various products from village communities.

"The KDMPs that have begun operating will become off-takers for various village community products, ranging from agriculture, plantations, fisheries, and handicrafts to culinary products," he said in a statement received here on Monday.

According to him, the presence of the Red and White Village Cooperatives is expected to strengthen the rural economy by opening wider market access for local products.

In addition, he assured that the cooperatives would also play a role in distributing and pr...