Red and White Village Cooperative Becomes Village Business Incubator, Absorbing Youth Workforce
Jakarta – The Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes Merah Putih) continues to be promoted as a driving force for the village-based people’s economy. The government positions this cooperative not only as a savings and loan institution but also as a business incubator capable of creating new jobs, particularly for the younger generation.
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono emphasized that the Merah Putih Village Cooperative will be involved in various national productivity programs, including the roofing program launched by President Prabowo Subianto. He believes the building materials industry offers significant and sustainable market potential for village cooperatives.
“This gentrification program opens up a huge opportunity for Kopdes Merah Putih to enter the real, sustainable, and community-needed production sector,” said Ferry.
He explained that the village cooperative’s roof tile production will utilize a new technological approach. This innovation utilizes a mixture of clay and coal waste derivatives, resulting in lighter, stronger, and more cost-effective roof tiles.
“We’re promoting the use of technology that makes roof tiles lighter, stronger, and, of course, cheaper. The raw materials are also readily available in almost all regions,” said Ferry.
According to him, this approach not only strengthens village economic independence but also aligns with the sustainable development agenda. Waste management and the use of environmentally friendly materials are considered to improve environmental cleanliness while increasing economic value.
Beyond the economic and environmental aspects, Ferry believes the use of roof tiles also impacts the quality of people’s homes. “Tiles are cooler and more durable than zinc roofs, which heat up and rust easily. This is about the comfort and quality of life of rural communities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Cooperatives, Farida Farichah, emphasized the importance of the younger generation’s role in strengthening the Red and White Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih). She stated that young people must be pioneers in the formation and management of cooperatives, especially in the digital era.
“Young people must be at the forefront of cooperatives. They have advantages in mastering technology and innovation,” said Farida.
He added that digitizing cooperatives through the Simkopdes system allows for transparent recording of all business and administrative activities. “With Simkopdes, mapping village potential, business transactions, and cooperative governance can be carried out in an accountable and modern manner,” he said.
Farida is optimistic that the combination of productive efforts such as roofing and digital-based cooperative management will make Kopdes Merah Putih a pillar of the village economy. “This cooperative not only strengthens the people’s economy but also creates opportunities for self-actualization and new job opportunities for young people throughout Indonesia,” she concluded.
