The Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperative (Kopdes) is a program initiated by the government and designed as an integrated service center at the village level, one of which is through the provision of cheap basic food outlets that directly target the daily needs of residents.
Deputy Minister of Cooperatives Farida Farichah stated that strengthening village cooperatives must be supported by adequate access to capital and modern governance. Furthermore, the use of digital systems is crucial to ensure transparency and accountability in fund management at the village level.
“Before applying for funding, every cooperative must be registered with the Red and White Village Cooperative Information System (Simkopdes). Access to financing requires digital administrative readiness,” he said.
Previously, the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) hoped that the management of the Red and White Village Cooperative in Papua Mountains (Papeg) would apply local wisdom to improve the welfare of indigenous Papuans (OAP) in eight local districts.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Wamendagri), Ribka Haluk, said that another factor to improve the welfare of OAP in eight districts in the Papua Mountains is the management of the Red and White Village Cooperative with local wisdom.
“We want local governments, both provincial and district, to continue to revitalize the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) as a means to improve the welfare of the people of the Papua Highlands,” he said.
Ribka further emphasized that the presence of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) is expected to stimulate regional financial circulation, thereby reducing poverty.
“So, the President wants the regional government to be obligated to establish Red and White Village Cooperatives in every village in the Papua Highlands and to manage them effectively, thereby improving the welfare of the local community,” she said.
It is hoped that the regional government will continue to encourage the development of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih), as regulated by law. The regional heads, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, Regent, and Deputy Regent, are urged to continue to contribute to the advancement of the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) to support the region’s economic growth and explore its potential.
The Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop), Ferry Juliantono, is preparing the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative as an alternative workplace for Generation Z and millennials. The MSMEs and local brand owners encouraged to join the cooperative ecosystem are from the younger generation, particularly Gen Z and millennials. Ferry added that village and sub-district cooperatives have significant potential to absorb labor.
With a target of establishing 80 thousand Kopdes throughout Indonesia, each cooperative is projected to need administrators and managers, thus opening up job opportunities for hundreds of thousands to millions of people.