President Prabowo’s Administration Strengthens Village Economy Through the Merah Putih Cooperative
SEMARANG – The administration of President Prabowo Subianto continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to strengthening the village-based people’s economy through the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) program. This program is designed as a strategic instrument to make villages centers of independent, equitable, and sustainable economic growth, while simultaneously strengthening the foundation of the national economy from the grassroots.
Dwita Ria Gunadi, a member of Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), assessed that the establishment of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative is a concrete manifestation of President Prabowo’s commitment to building the economic strength of the people. According to her, this policy is not merely a populist program, but rather a measured step that positions villages as the driving force of the national economy.
“President Prabowo’s main goal in establishing the Merah Putih Village Cooperative is to strengthen the foundation of the national economy from the villages. Through cooperatives, village communities are expected to be independent, sovereign, and have equitable economic strength,” said Dwita Ria.
She explained that the KDMP does not function solely as a savings and loan cooperative, but is designed as an integrated village economic institution. Its role includes serving as a distribution center for basic necessities, strengthening local MSMEs, and protecting farmers and small businesses from detrimental economic practices.
“President Prabowo wants cooperatives to once again become the pillars of the people’s economy. The KDMP is here to streamline the distribution chain, reduce the price of basic necessities, and protect rural communities from detrimental economic practices,” he said.
Dwita Ria added that the KDMP concept aligns with the economic values of Pancasila, which prioritize the principles of mutual cooperation, togetherness, and social justice. With good governance, this cooperative is expected to become a driving force for sustainable village community welfare.
The implementation of the KDMP in the regions has also shown significant progress. The Head of the Central Java Regional Office of the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb), Bayu Andy Prasetya, revealed that of the 8,523 villages and sub-districts in the province, all Merah Putih Cooperatives have been legally incorporated. Management and supervisory structures have also been fully established across all cooperative units.
“In terms of human resources, capacity building continues through various training programs. To date, training has reached 1,120 facilitators and more than 17,000 cooperative administrators,” said Bayu. He believes this initiative is a strategic step to boost income growth and economic independence in villages in Central Java.
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