Aceh – Indonesia, Head of the Aceh Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Office, Reza Ferdian, stated that Aceh possesses immense potential for cooperative development, including the Merah Putih Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDMP).
With the number reaching 6,479 KDMP cooperatives in Aceh, strengthening governance and bookkeeping is crucial so that cooperatives can thrive and compete with other businesses.
This was conveyed during the opening of the Merah Putih Village cooperative bookkeeping training on Friday (10/9/2026).
Reza Ferdian also introduced the line of officials and division heads within the Aceh Cooperatives and SMEs Office.
He expressed hope that all personnel could work optimally to support the growth of cooperatives and SMEs in Aceh.
According to him, cooperatives must be managed professionally, transparently, and accountably. One aspect requiring serious attention is the cooperative bookkeeping and financial management system.
“Until now, bookkeeping remains a major issue in cooperative management. Even seemingly minor recording errors can lead to significant disputes among the community,” he noted.
He warned that disorderly financial management could potentially trigger misunderstandings and conflicts within village environments (gampong). Therefore, cooperative treasurers must possess solid administrative and bookkeeping skills to ensure every transaction is fully accountable.
Reza hopes that cooperatives in Aceh can serve as role models in implementing good governance. Well-ordered administration will bolster public trust in cooperatives.
Furthermore, he mentioned that Aceh ranks third nationally in terms of the highest number of cooperatives, following Central Java in first place and East Java in second.
He views this position as both an opportunity and a challenge for Aceh to improve the quality of cooperative management.
The special focus given to Aceh is expected to be utilized to strengthen institutions, enhance human resources capacity, and drive cooperatives to become engines of local economic growth.
Regarding capacity building for managers, Reza shared that a national-level training for cooperative treasurers is scheduled for October 24, expecting 300 to 500 participants from various regions across Indonesia.
The training aims to deepen treasurers’ understanding of transaction recording, financial report preparation, and cooperative fund accountability.
He emphasized that the success of cooperatives cannot be measured merely by the quantity established, but also by management quality, financial transparency, and tangible benefits felt by the community.
With proper bookkeeping and professional management, KDMP cooperatives in Aceh are expected to grow into robust, trusted, and competitive economic institutions. (rus)