VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is content with the increasing development of cooperatives in Indonesia, including their contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP).

"I am satisfied with the significant development in cooperative sectors, and their contribution to increasing the GDP by 4.48 percent, from 3.99 percent earlier," the president remarked while attending the main event of the 71st anniversary of National Cooperatives Day at the Bumi Serpong Damai Indonesia Convention Exhibition in Tangerang on Thursday, July 13.

He pointed to a significant increase in the development of the cooperative sector in Indonesia.

"However, what we really need is a leap in mutual cooperation based on the economic system that we have," the president remarked.

On the occasion, President Jokowi also pinned a gift to several figures, who received the award, and reviewed the National Cooperatives Day Expo 2018 that showcased Indonesian cooperative products.

On the occasion, the president was also scheduled to disseminate information on a policy in which the Final Income Tax (PPh) for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) is set at 0.5 percent .

President Jokowi will acquaint the public with the policy in which PPh for MSMEs is set at 0.5 percent.

Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Minister AAGN Puspayoga remarked that the 71st National Cooperatives Day 2018 is themed, "Strengthening Cooperatives to Support National Economic Growth."

Puspayoga said equitable economic growth is needed to realize a just society.

"The cooperatives have a strategic role to achieve equity, as there could be economic growth but it is enjoyed only by a certain group of people," the minister pointed out.

Furthermore, he noted that to increase the role of cooperatives in realizing equitable economic growth, in accordance with the directive of President Jokowi, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs has run the Cooperatives Total Reform through three strategic steps: Reorientation, Rehabilitation, and Development.(ANTARA)