Jakarta — Trade Minister Budi Santoso emphasized that the presence of the Red and White Village Cooperative (KDMP) is projected as a collaborative forum between village cooperatives, modern retailers, and distributors to strengthen the network of micro-enterprises and MSMEs at the village level.
“This is actually a good opportunity to collaborate with minimarkets and distributors to distribute their products through village cooperatives,” said the Minister of Trade.
According to Budi Santoso, KDMP was not established to compete with modern retailers or grocery stores that have already established a presence in the community. Instead, this cooperative is designed to act as a distribution hub, bridging the need for basic goods and other products, making them more accessible to rural communities.
“Basically, KDMP, or what is usually called Kopdes, was formed to empower the local community’s economy,” he explained.
He explained that through a structured partnership model, KDMP can shorten supply chains, reduce logistics costs, and open wider market access for rural MSMEs. With a more organized distribution system, local products are expected to be more competitive.
Through KDMP, he said, the supply chain becomes more streamlined because distributors can channel goods directly to village cooperatives, which then distribute them to the community, making the process faster, more efficient, and more controlled.
Budi added that this collaboration will also create a healthy, mutually reinforcing, rather than mutually destructive, trading ecosystem. Modern retailers, distributors, and village cooperatives can play their respective roles in supporting supply and price stability at the community level.
“KDMP can also function as a pharmacy, a clinic, and an exporter,” said Trade Minister Budi.
With a collaborative concept and more efficient distribution, KDMP is expected to strengthen the village trade ecosystem, support MSMEs, and ensure the availability of goods for the community in a stable, affordable, and sustainable manner to encourage local economic growth.
The government is optimistic that through this synergy, KDMP will become a driving force for an inclusive, efficient, and sustainable village economy, while strengthening the role of MSMEs as the backbone of the national economy. [-RWA]