The Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan (Village/Urban Village Cooperative) Merah Putih, as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s rural economic strengthening initiative, aims to enhance the welfare of communities in villages across Indonesia. This program represents a significant step towards a new era of village-based national development, emphasizing the sovereignty of the people in managing their resources. With Indonesia celebrating its 80th Independence Day, the Kopdes Merah Putih is seen as a pathway to achieving economic independence for rural communities, enabling villagers to have freedom in the economic sphere.
The initiative serves as a transition from reliance on social assistance to sustainable economic empowerment, aiming to address the challenges faced by villages and urban areas in meeting essential needs and driving local economies. Overcoming issues such as insufficient storage for fish catch, debt burdens on micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), lack of healthcare facilities in thousands of villages, and absence of cooperative services, the Kopdes Merah Putih program plays a crucial role in transforming the economic landscape.
President Prabowo launched 80,081 Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives on July 21, 2025, as part of a strategic effort to establish a self-reliant, inclusive, and equitable economy. Aligning with the Asta Cita’s third pillar, which focuses on cooperatives as key drivers of rural economic growth, the program aims to create employment opportunities, promote entrepreneurship, and strengthen local production centers sustainably. By shortening distribution chains and ensuring essential goods reach people directly at fair prices, the cooperatives aim to improve access to groceries, medicines, and fertilizers for communities.
In Cileunyi Wetan village, Bandung regency, West Java, Dedi Nurendi, head of the Kopdes Merah Putih, highlighted the positive impact of the program. Residents who previously had to travel long distances for basic necessities now benefit from the cooperative’s services, addressing concerns related to savings and loans from informal lenders. Dedi emphasized the importance of joining cooperatives as a community-driven solution for economic needs, fostering a spirit of mutual cooperation and collective empowerment.
