Jakarta – The government continues to accelerate the development of Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) as the backbone of the people’s economy and modern retail centers at the village level. This major initiative is one of the strategies for strengthening the community-based national economy, with the target of creating 80,000 modern-standard outlets that can serve as centers for economic and social services and improving community welfare.
The Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, stated that the progress of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) development has shown significant progress. He stated that to date, approximately 36,000 plots of land are ready for development by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, the construction contractor.
“Currently, approximately 36,000 plots of land are ready for development, and nearly 29,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives have been built. This is an important achievement for strengthening the village economic ecosystem,” said Ferry Juliantono.
To accelerate development, PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI). According to Ferry, this collaboration is crucial for accelerating infrastructure provision in remote areas.
“This synergy is crucial for faster and more coordinated development, especially in areas with geographical challenges,” he said.
The government is targeting all 80,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) to have physical buildings by next year. However, Ferry emphasized that various challenges remain, particularly regarding the readiness of basic infrastructure in villages.
He highlighted several key obstacles, such as the thousands of villages that still lack adequate electricity, tens of thousands of villages without internet access, and the rampant practice of loan sharks burdening the community.
“In a number of coastal and fishing villages, diesel fuel and ice factories are not even available. These two components are vital for managing the catch,” explained Ferry Juliantono.
Meanwhile, the President Director of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, stated that the development process is being carried out in a measured manner and tailored to regional needs. He explained that the construction budget for one Red and White Kopdes unit reaches IDR 1.6 billion.
“We have calculated this cost based on construction needs in various regions. The value is around IDR 2.9 million per square meter, which is still very reasonable,” said Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota.
Joao emphasized that if construction followed the regional construction price index, the budget requirement could be much larger.
“In Papua, the cost per square meter can reach IDR 24 million, while in some areas of Sumatra or East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), it’s around IDR 12 million. Java has the lowest cost, at around IDR 1 million. So, the current budget is the most optimal figure,” he said.
The government hopes that the 80,000 Red and White Kopdes will become a modern retail ecosystem that strengthens the village economy, creates new jobs, and serves as a distribution center for local products, enabling the national economy to grow more equitably and inclusively.