Merah Putih Village Cooperative of Papua: A Platform for Manifesting the Spirit of Mutual Cooperation
Central Papua – Following the launch of the Merah Putih Village/Subdistrict Cooperative institutions as part of the 78th National Cooperative Day celebration, this initiative is more than just an economic program—it serves as a tangible symbol of mutual cooperation, a core value deeply rooted in Indonesian culture.
The Governor of Central Papua, Meki Nawipa, stated that cooperatives play a vital role in building community self-reliance and welfare. In his remarks, he emphasized that cooperatives are not merely economic institutions, but the foundation of economic democracy based on the principle of solidarity.
“A cooperative is not merely an economic institution—it is a manifestation of our spirit of mutual cooperation, by the people, of the people, and for the people. With the principle of one person, one vote, cooperatives reflect economic democracy that grants equal rights to every member in determining the direction of our shared future,” Nawipa stated.
The Merah Putih Cooperative Program is designed as an integrated center for village-level economic activity. These cooperatives will manage key sectors such as the provision of subsidized basic necessities (such as gas, rice, and cooking oil), healthcare services through village clinics and pharmacies, and agricultural logistics through harvest storage warehouses and distribution facilities. This model is expected to sustainably drive grassroots economic development.
Governor Nawipa highlighted that Central Papua holds a strategic role in achieving the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. He reported significant progress in the implementation of the Merah Putih Cooperative program in the region. Out of 1,208 villages and subdistricts that have received outreach, 847 (70.1%) have conducted Village Consultations—a crucial step in the process—and 581 cooperatives (48.1%) have been officially established and obtained legal status.
“These figures are concrete proof of our collective hard work. They also represent Central Papua’s contribution toward the national goal of establishing over 80,000 Merah Putih Cooperatives through Special Village Consultations across Indonesia,” he affirmed.
The launch event was also attended by the Acting Regional Secretary of Central Papua, the Chairperson of the Central Papua MRP, the Regent and Deputy Regent of Nabire, local military and police leaders (Forkopimda), and representatives from six other districts including Dogiyai, Deiyai, Paniai, Intan Jaya, Puncak, and Puncak Jaya. This moment marked a significant milestone in strengthening the people’s economy in Papua through cooperatives as a collective platform that upholds the spirit of mutual cooperation.
