JAKARTA, JAKTIMES.COM – The spirit of grassroots economic revival echoed from the courtyard of Istiqlal Mosque on Saturday (April 11, 2026). A total of 267 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (KKMP) from across the capital officially declared the formation of the Communication Forum of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (FORKOM KKMP) DKI Jakarta in a momentum later dubbed the “Istiqlal Declaration.”
The declaration took place during the IGF Food & Craft event held at the complex of Southeast Asia’s largest mosque. The establishment of the forum marks a strategic step to strengthen coordination among hundreds of village-level cooperatives that have so far operated independently.
A shared commitment was emphasized: cooperatives must become resilient, independent, and competitive pillars of the people’s economy.
One of the declarators, Bahris Paseng, Chairman of the Merah Putih Cooperative of Utan Kayu Utara Village, East Jakarta, described the formation of the forum as an urgent necessity. With hundreds of cooperatives in operation, a structured communication platform is needed.
“With 267 KKMP spread across the city, a structured and sustainable communication system is essential. This forum will serve as a platform for integration, coordination, and acceleration of cooperative programs at the village level,” said Bahris.
Another declarator, Muhammad Sholeh from KKMP Cipinang Village, East Jakarta, added that FORKOM KKMP DKI Jakarta would strengthen synergy among grassroots cooperatives. According to him, village cooperatives play a strategic role in meeting community needs.
“With FORKOM KKMP DKI Jakarta, we can share information, strengthen business networks, and improve members’ welfare. Cooperatives will no longer operate individually,” Sholeh said.
Meanwhile, Marwan Aziz, also a declarator of FORKOM KKMP DKI Jakarta, emphasized that the forum represents an important momentum to strengthen the position of cooperatives within Jakarta’s economic ecosystem. He noted that village cooperatives have significant potential but have not yet been systematically connected.
“This forum is important so that village cooperatives do not operate independently. Through consolidation via FORKOM, we can build collective economic strength, expand market access, and improve the welfare of members and the community,” said Marwan, who is also Chairman of the Merah Putih Cooperative of Duren Tiga Village, South Jakarta.
Marwan, who is also the Founder of The Jakarta Times (Jaktimes.com), added that with Jakarta’s population exceeding 10 million people, cooperatives have great potential to become the backbone of the people’s economy if managed in a modern and integrated manner.
Going forward, FORKOM KKMP DKI Jakarta will integrate cooperatives through a tiered coordination system, from the provincial level to municipalities, districts, and villages. The forum will also develop an integrated digital platform, provide human resource training, and open access to financing and markets.
Strategic programs include strengthening cooperative institutions, developing businesses based on local potential, and building partnerships with the government, state-owned enterprises, and the private sector. Priority sectors include basic necessities, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and the development of cold storage facilities.
With the establishment of FORKOM KKMP DKI Jakarta, cooperatives are expected to gain faster access to information, improve business capacity, and become key drivers of the people’s economy in the capital.
“Cooperatives Rise, the Economy Soars. That is the spirit we bring in this Istiqlal Declaration,” Bahris concluded.