Yogyakarta – The government continues to strengthen the role of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih) as a driving force for the people’s economy while also creating new job opportunities for the younger generation. This program is now geared not only as a center for village economic services but also as a workplace, innovation space, and business development platform for Generation Z and millennials.
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono emphasized that the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) is designed to adapt to changing times and the needs of a dynamic, creative, and innovative young workforce. He stated that cooperatives must be modern to be an attractive career option for young people in various regions.
“We will make this cooperative an alternative choice for them to work, as well as a place to develop products,” said Ferry.
This step was taken in response to the high demand for new jobs and to encourage young people to become not only job seekers but also business creators. The Red and White Village Cooperative is projected to become a productive ecosystem connecting young entrepreneurs, local MSMEs, and village- and sub-district-based distribution networks.
To strengthen the quality of this ecosystem, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs (Hipmi) in Yogyakarta collaborates on product curation, business incubation, and financing. This scheme aims to promote MSME products and local brands developed by young people and provide broader market access through the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) network.
According to Ferry, this approach will encourage cooperatives to be more relevant to the styles and needs of the new generation. “We hope this cooperative will be cooler, more contemporary, and more relatable to the younger generation,” he said.
He added that the MSMEs and local brand owners who will be strengthened through the cooperative network are predominantly Gen Z and millennials. The government wants to ensure that their creativity and innovation receive support from systems, financing, and concrete marketing channels.
“If they want to become entrepreneurs, we will help them sell their products at the village cooperative,” said Ferry.
The Red and White Village Cooperative Program is also considered to have significant potential for absorbing professional labor at the local level. With a target of establishing 80,000 cooperative units across Indonesia, each unit requires managers, operational managers, administrative staff, and a business development team.
“This means we can help the government create jobs, which are desperately needed by Gen Z and millennials,” Ferry emphasized.
With its modern design, financing support, and extensive market network, Kopdes Merah Putih is positioned as a new hub for the village economy as well as a productive platform for the younger generation to work and build economic independence.
