Jakarta, – The government has confirmed that the Red and White Cooperative program has now entered its operational phase as part of efforts to strengthen the people’s economy and increase community independence at the village level. This phase is a crucial step in ensuring that the cooperative concept based on mutual cooperation can be implemented effectively and sustainably throughout Indonesia.
The Red and White Cooperative is designed as a vehicle for community economic empowerment that integrates local potential with the support of government policies. Through this approach, the cooperative functions not only as an economic institution but also as a center for social activities and strengthening the capacity of village communities.
The government has prepared various strategic steps to support the implementation of the operational phase, ranging from strengthening regulations and providing institutional assistance to providing access to financing. Furthermore, digitalization of cooperatives is a key focus to increase transparency, efficiency, and competitiveness of cooperatives in the modern economic era.
President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the Red and White Cooperative is a crucial instrument in building national economic strength from the grassroots.
“Cooperatives must be the backbone of the people’s economy. With the Red and White Cooperative, we want to ensure that village communities have access to financing, markets, and sustainable business strengthening,” said Prabowo Subianto.
Furthermore, the President emphasized that the success of this program depends heavily on active community participation and synergy between the central and regional governments. According to him, strong cooperatives will be the foundation for creating an inclusive and equitable economy.
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of Cooperatives, Ferry Juliantono, stated that the government has prepared a structured implementation scheme to ensure cooperatives can operate professionally and sustainably.
“We ensure that every cooperative has good governance, supported by intensive mentoring and access to technology and financing. This is crucial for cooperatives to grow and provide real benefits to their members,” he said.
This operational phase is also expected to encourage increased village economic productivity, create new jobs, and strengthen locally based supply chains. The involvement of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the cooperative ecosystem is one of the keys to the success of this program.
The government continues to conduct regular monitoring and evaluation to ensure implementation is in line with established objectives. Strengthening human resource capacity, transparency in management, and accountability are priorities to ensure the program’s sustainability.
With the commencement of the operational phase of the Red and White Cooperative, the government is optimistic that this program will become a driving force for the people’s economy, capable of improving the welfare of the community evenly. Going forward, cooperatives are expected to not only serve as pillars of the local economy but also contribute to strengthening national economic resilience amidst global dynamics.
