By: Dirandra Falguni)*
Amidst the dynamics of the national economy and increasingly complex global challenges, the government together with village communities are now starting to build a new foundation in an effort to create people’s economic independence. One of these strategic efforts is the establishment of the Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperative, a major initiative initiated as a concrete step to empower village communities based on the spirit of mutual cooperation and people’s economy.
This step is increasingly felt when various regions began to welcome this program with enthusiasm. Tanjung Kemuning Dua Village in Tanjung Kemuning District, Kaur Regency, Bengkulu Province, became one of the pioneers in implementing this program. The local village government officially formed the Merah Putih Cooperative in a meeting led directly by the Village Head (Kades), Dandi Judias Hendarta, and attended by elements of the Muspika, village officials, community leaders, and other village institutions.
Dandi emphasized that this cooperative is not just a savings and loan institution, but a strategic tool in driving local business sectors in the village. He wants this cooperative to be the driving force of the people’s economy. This is a real manifestation of the government’s commitment to building an independent and prosperous village. He also emphasized the importance of integrity, transparency, and accountability in managing cooperatives in order to gain full trust from the community.
The formation of this cooperative is expected to be the foundation for strong and sustainable village economic development. Not only opening up new business opportunities and creating jobs, but also becoming an inclusive space for all villagers to participate in productive economic activities.
Not only in Bengkulu, the same spirit also echoed in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The Chairman of the Sumbawa DPRD, Nanang Nasiruddin, openly stated his support for the establishment of the Red and White Cooperative in 157 villages and 8 sub-districts. According to him, this cooperative is part of a grand strategy towards Indonesia Emas 2045, which is based on community strength and economic independence.
Building the Red and White Cooperative is a real movement to build community-based economic independence. The Red and White Cooperative will strengthen village institutions, open access to social justice, and encourage economic equality. The Sumbawa DPRD is ready to be an active partner of the local government in accelerating the realization of this program throughout the region.
Meanwhile, Sumbawa Regent, Ir. H. Syarafuddin Jarot, MP, stated that this cooperative will be the main forum for village communities to develop businesses, strengthen inter-village collaboration, and increase access to capital in a fair and structured manner.
Support for this program also came from Nagan Raya Regency, Aceh Province. In the Socialization of the Acceleration of the Establishment of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative which took place in Darul Makmur District. The Regent of Nagan Raya, Teuku Raja Keumangan emphasized that this cooperative is a national strategic program initiated directly by President Prabowo Subianto, as part of the big agenda of village economic independence.
Teuku Raja Keumangan encouraged all village heads (keuchik) to actively make this program a success, including involving students and academics in cooperative management so that it runs professionally. He also reminded the importance of synergy between sub-district heads, technical services, and village assistants so that cooperatives can be born with good, healthy, and strong governance.
Not only that, the Riau Provincial Government also showed its seriousness through a virtual socialization meeting held at the Riau Governor’s Office. The activity involved representatives of districts/cities, vertical agencies, and other stakeholders in following up on Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9 of 2025 concerning the Acceleration of the Establishment of the Red and White Cooperative.
Coordinating Minister for Food, Zulkifli Hasan, in his direction emphasized that the formation of this cooperative is not just an administrative formality, but a national movement to strengthen the structure of the people’s economy. He added that cooperatives must be able to embrace farmers, fishermen, MSME actors, and vulnerable communities so as not to be left behind by the flow of economic growth.
The Red and White Village Cooperative Program is not a momentary agenda. This is a real answer to the challenges of economic inequality, dependence on external capital, and the weak distribution structure of people’s production results. Cooperatives are an instrument that has proven to be able to channel economic justice more evenly, especially for village communities who have been the spearhead of food security and local wisdom.
Moreover, the Red and White Cooperative is a symbol of synergy between the state and the people in knitting economic strength from the village to the city, from the outskirts to the center. If managed honestly, transparently, and professionally, this cooperative will be a solid foundation in realizing an Indonesia that is economically independent, sovereign in policy, and fair in the distribution of welfare.
Through the Red and White Cooperative, we want to build the community’s economy from the bottom, create business independence, and strengthen community-based distribution and production networks. As the slogan echoed by the Chairman of the Sumbawa DPRD “Building Villages, Strengthening the Nation”, the spirit of the Red and White Cooperative must continue to be ignited. Now is the time for villages to not only be objects of development, but subjects that lead the transformation towards Indonesia Emas 2045.
)* Government Policy Observer
