Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – As stated in the second mission, the Malang City Government is committed to realizing a prosperous and independent society based on a stable and adaptive economy. This is also known as strengthening economic and welfare clusters, an economic development approach that not only pursues growth, but also sustainability and social resilience.
This statement was delivered by the Deputy Mayor of Malang, Ali Muthohirin when opening the 2025 Regional Conference (Musda) of the Indonesian Cooperative Council (Dekopinda) of Malang City at the Dekopinda Office of Malang City, Jalan Panji Suroso No. 3, Malang City, Tuesday (29/4/2025).
Through this Musda, Deputy Mayor Ali invited all cooperative stakeholders to formulate strategic steps that can accelerate the realization of the mission. "Cooperatives and MSMEs must continue to be developed through business model innovation, digital transformation, and increasing human resource capacity in order to compete in the new economic era," he said.
On the other hand, this is in line with the spirit of the 9th Dasa Bakti, namely Ngalam Laris, which focuses on the development of local business products, including facilitating capital and marketing. Ngalam Laris is not just a program, but a collective movement to foster pride in original Malang products.
Therefore, it is expected that the role of Dekopinda Malang City can be more active in educating and assisting cooperatives and MSMEs so that they are able to adapt to increasingly competitive market demands. "This assistance is not only limited to the managerial side, but also includes improving product quality, business legality, and digital literacy so that cooperatives and MSMEs are able to move up a class and penetrate a wider market," explained Deputy Mayor Ali.
The Malang City Government also encourages synergy between cooperatives and local business actors in building a supply chain based on local wisdom. "This is the time for us to show that cooperatives are not just 'traditional business entities', but can be a driving force for a dynamic, innovative, and adaptive economy to changing times," he hoped.
The spirit of collaboration according to the Deputy Mayor must be the main breath in every step of local economic development. The Malang City Government is also committed to continuing to provide the widest possible space for innovation by local economic actors.
Furthermore, Deputy Mayor Ali said that the Malang City Government continues to strengthen supporting infrastructure, including the arrangement of traditional markets, the development of creative industry centers, and the development of integrated MSME areas with easily accessible licensing and coaching services. "All of this is done to create a healthy, safe, and productive business ecosystem. I also invite all elements of society, including the younger generation, to take part in this Ngalam Laris concept," he said.
The culture of buying and using local products must also be fostered from an early age, he said. "We must be proud to use Malang products, promote the work of our own people, and make it part of a modern lifestyle with local character," he said.
In this context, Deputy Mayor Ali emphasized the role of school cooperatives, youth cooperatives, and community-based cooperatives is very important. "They can be a medium for learning and strengthening the economy from a young age. If we want to build sustainable economic independence, then we must start by fostering an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age and cooperatives are one of the paths," he added.
The Deputy Mayor is also optimistic, with solid synergy between the government, Dekopinda, cooperative actors, and the community, Malang City will be able to transform into a city that is not only advanced in terms of infrastructure, but also resilient in terms of the people's economy. "Healthy cooperatives, creative MSMEs, and organized people's markets will be the main foundation for a prosperous and independent society," concluded Ali. (say/yn)
