100 Red and White Cooperatives Completed in Pamekasan, Says District Military Commander

Pamekasan (ANTARA) - Commander of Military District Command 0826 Pamekasan, Lieutenant Colonel Kav Agus Wibowo Hendratmoko, stated that 100 units of the Red and White Cooperative have now been completed, with only the fitting out of facilities and an official inauguration by the local government remaining. “This means more than half of the Red and White Cooperatives have been built,” he said in Pamekasan, East Java, on Saturday. He explained that the number of Red and White Cooperatives being built in Pamekasan Regency this year totals 189 units, spread across 178 villages and 11 urban wards. Consequently, he added, there are still 89 cooperative units whose construction is ongoing. “But these 89 are also nearing completion, at between 80 and 90 per cent. It is estimated that by the end of this month, all of them will likely be finished,” he said. Lieutenant Colonel Agus Wibowo further explained that a number of supporting operational tools for the Red and White Cooperatives have also been distributed to cooperative managers. These include 91 trucks and 30 pick-up vehicles, as well as cooperative outlet equipment. “The outlet equipment we have distributed includes 54 shelving units and 80 sets of furniture comprising tables and chairs,” he said. The distribution of these facilities, he continued, is being carried out in stages to ensure all completed cooperatives can begin operating optimally. The Village and Urban Ward Red and White Cooperative is a priority programme of President Prabowo Subianto as an effort to drive the economy of village communities. Previously, Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono estimated that around 40,000 Village/Urban Ward Red and White Cooperatives could begin operations by the end of 2026, in line with the acceleration of supporting infrastructure development for the programme across various regions. “By this year, I estimate that all completed physical buildings will total a maximum of 40,000. Once the physical buildings are finished, we will strive to make them operational. I believe this can be achieved by the end of this year,” Ferry said during a working meeting with Commission VI of the Indonesian House of Representatives in Jakarta last Thursday. Ferry stated that the government is employing a realistic approach that prioritises quality in the implementation of the Red and White Cooperative programme. He noted that to date, 12,533 Village/Urban Ward Red and White Cooperative units have fully completed their physical construction. In addition, 22,737 cooperative units are still in the construction phase.