Digitizing the Merah Putih Village Cooperative, Government Involves State-Owned Enterprises
Jakarta – Continuing its commitment as a strategic partner of the government in empowering the village economy, PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI) has again taken concrete steps to support the sustainability of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-District Cooperative (KDKMP) program.
In this next phase, BRI is strengthening its digital and inclusive approach by expanding AgenBRILink-based financial services and strengthening financial literacy and capabilities for cooperative administrators.
As a follow-up to the socialization in Sidoarjo, BRI launched the KDKMP Intensive Mentoring Program, which will be held simultaneously in five priority provinces—East Java, Central Java, West Sumatra, South Sulawesi, and West Nusa Tenggara—from mid-September to the end of October 2025.
This program includes advanced training on business proposal preparation, simulations of applications to Himbara banks, and digital-based cooperative operational strategies. BRI also encourages the use of the BRISPOT application to monitor financing applications in real time and transparently.
“We want to ensure that village cooperatives are not only capable of developing sound business proposals, but are also managerially and operationally prepared to manage financing in a healthy and sustainable manner,” said Alexander Dippo Paris, Director of Commercial Banking at BRI.
In collaboration with the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises, the KDKMP Task Force, and local governments, BRI will also expand the integration of its cooperative system with digital banking services. One strategic initiative is the development of the KDKMP Monitoring Dashboard, which will enable stakeholders to monitor cooperative performance nationally.
This initiative aligns with the direction of Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo, who emphasized the importance of digitalization as a key to transparency, accountability, and competitiveness for cooperatives in the modern era.
“We want cooperatives to become professional entities capable of healthy and competitive growth. Digital record-keeping will pave the way for cooperatives to gain the trust of financial institutions and business partners,” said Kartiko.
The presence of 1.2 million BRILink Agents spread across more than 67,000 villages continues to be the backbone of BRI’s financial inclusion efforts in rural areas. In the context of KDKMP, AgenBRILink not only functions as an extension of the bank but also as a partner for cooperatives in providing easily accessible financial services to the community.
BRI has recorded a significant increase in cooperative transaction activity utilizing AgenBRILink, from payments and microloan disbursement to the distribution of local MSME products.
“AgenBRILink is a crucial node in the village cooperative ecosystem. We will continue to strengthen their role through training and technology utilization to further integrate cooperatives into the national digital economy system,” explained Agus Noorsanto, Deputy President Director of BRI.
To date, 80,081 KDKMPs have been established and are ready to operate across the country. With support from BRI and the synergy of other state-owned enterprises, cooperatives are expected to become centers of local economic growth based on regional potential and the value of mutual cooperation.
“Cooperatives are not just business vehicles, but also symbols of the independence and economic strength of the people. We are optimistic that the synergy between the government, state-owned enterprises, and the community will deliver a major leap forward for the village economy,” Agus concluded.
Through these initiatives, BRI emphasizes its role not only as a financial institution but also as a national development agent committed to driving the economy from the grassroots level. This step aligns with the government’s vision of realizing independent, advanced, and prosperous villages.
