Jakarta, Oct. 28 -- Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar emphasized the role of Red and White Village Co-ops as a foundation of the local economy and a pillar of village economic self-reliance.

"Red and White Village Co-ops are revitalizing village economies that are currently stagnant. They bring new hope, showing that the state and government are present so that village economies can become a new economic strength," he said here on Tuesday.

He made the remarks during a forum titled "One Year of Community Empowerment: The First Steps in National Transformation."

The Red and White Co-ops program is part of the government's efforts to rebuild a people-centered economy rooted in mutual cooperation and t...