Jakarta, Aug. 13 -- The Presidential Communication Office (PCO) stated that the Red and White Co-ops act as a bridge for villages to achieve economic independence.

The initiative is part of President Prabowo Subianto's efforts to strengthen village economies and improve villagers' welfare.

"Red and White Co-ops are a monumental step that marks a new era of village-based national development. They represent the people's sovereignty in managing their own resources," Adita Irawati, an advisor at the PCO, noted in a statement here on Wednesday.

Marking Indonesia's 80th anniversary, Irawati described the Red and White Co-ops as a symbol of a new era of economic freedom.

"Through these cooperatives, rural communities are expected to become ...