Merah Putih Village Cooperative Becomes New Village Economic Center

Jakarta – Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, emphasized that the main objective of establishing the Merah Putih Village Cooperative is to create a center for village economic activity while simultaneously opening up space for the younger generation to develop their potential.

“This cooperative provides opportunities for village youth to learn and train to become entrepreneurs,” said Zulhas.

The Merah Putih Village Cooperative will also be connected to approximately 80,000 cooperatives throughout Indonesia, enabling the exchange of information and strengthening joint ventures.

He added that this cooperative is not intended to compete with Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes), but rather to complement them. Currently, nearly 1,700 cooperatives are operational in Central Java, out of a target of 8,000.

“We have 10,000 cooperatives that will begin operating this month, although there are still obstacles related to the outstanding loan ceiling. We hope this can be resolved in the next week or two,” said Zulhas.

He also emphasized that this cooperative is not a form of financial assistance, but rather a collaborative effort that requires hard work. To that end, a task force has been formed, led by the regent and relevant officials, to assist in resolving obstacles in the field. “If cooperative administrators encounter difficulties, they can discuss them with the task force or the regent. If the problem cannot be resolved at the district level, we are ready to involve the Coordinating Minister and other ministers, and even report it to the president if necessary,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM), Taruna Ikrar, stated that his agency is preparing a drug list for the Merah Putih Cooperative pharmacies, which will reach 38,000 units across Indonesia.

“We are currently collaborating with the Ministry of Cooperatives to regulate the specific drugs that can be sold there,” he said.

This village pharmacy is one of nine mandatory outlets that must be present in every Merah Putih Cooperative, along with grocery stores, agricultural machinery stores, Islamic banks, LPG stations, and clinics.**