1,265 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives in West Sumatra Now Legally Incorporated

In West Sumatra province, 1,265 Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes) are now legally incorporated, of which 954 have obtained Business Identification Numbers (NIB). “Those that have not yet obtained NIB are in the process,” said the Head of the West Sumatra Cooperative, Small and Medium Enterprises Office, Endrizal, in Padang on Friday. Endrizal made this statement regarding the progress of developing the Merah Putih Kopdes, which is one of President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programmes to advance the people’s economy. In 2025, the government or relevant offices will focus on the formation and training of human resources for the Merah Putih Kopdes. Therefore, those without NIB are expected to complete the process by 2026. At the same time, in 2026, the Merah Putih Kopdes will also focus on building offices, with 171 already constructed so far and beginning to develop business units. So far, the West Sumatra Cooperative and SME Office observes that most Merah Putih Kopdes operate in providing staple goods such as selling rice, cooking oil, and gas. Furthermore, local governments will assist in directing the management of Merah Putih Kopdes to sell or provide various needs relevant to market demands. For example, fertiliser for farmers and agricultural seeds. Even more specifically, the government urges Merah Putih Kopdes to exploit various potentials in a given area. For instance, Kopdes in coastal areas are encouraged to operate in the fisheries sector and similar fields. Endrizal believes that if Merah Putih Kopdes are directed or exploit the competitive advantages of an area, then President Prabowo Subianto’s flagship programme will impact economic growth.