Minister of Cooperatives Explains Fate of Truck and Pickup Imports from India for Merah Putih Village Cooperatives
Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that the distribution of imported trucks and pickups from India is expected to support the operations of the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives (Kopdes/kel) that are ready and completed.
“Some (trucks and pickups) have already been distributed to the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives, and they seem sufficient and can be used to support cooperative operations,” said Minister Ferry when met on the sidelines of the halal bihalal event at the Ministry of Cooperatives (Kemenkop) RI, Jakarta, on Monday (31/3/2026).
Further, Ferry said that the distribution of 105,000 trucks and pickups from India is being carried out gradually in line with the progress of the physical construction of the Kopdes/kel Merah Putih.
“This is done gradually. As soon as a Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperative has completed its physical building and is equipped with necessary tools, it will immediately be provided with truck and pickup facilities,” he stated.
The Minister of Cooperatives said that the government is also preparing support from the national automotive industry. However, it does not rule out the possibility of importing to meet the needs of around 80,000 Kopdes/kel Merah Putih across Indonesia.
“We still prioritise the national automotive industry. However, if it does not meet all the needs, the rest will have to be fulfilled from other countries,” said Ferry.
“We will see later regarding the portion of local production and imports. What has already arrived will be used first to complete operations, because that is an obligation. Once the physical building, warehouse, and outlet are finished, they will immediately be equipped with vehicle facilities,” he added.
Previously, on Sunday (29/3/2026), Minister Ferry revealed that the trucks and pickups imported from India will still be distributed for the operations of Kopdes/kel Merah Putih that are ready to operate.
Ferry explained that each cooperative will later receive one truck unit and one pickup unit, as well as a motorcycle, to facilitate the mobility of goods from the village to outside and vice versa.
“Now, thousands of trucks and pickups have been distributed to the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives, around 2,400 cooperatives,” he said.
Previously, Agrinas Pangan imported truck and pickup vehicles from India to support the operations of the Merah Putih Cooperatives.
The imports consist of 35,000 units of 4x4 pickup cars produced by Mahindra Ltd, as well as 70,000 units from Tata Motors which include 35,000 units of 4x4 pickups and 35,000 units of six-wheeled trucks. The total import value reaches Rp24.66 trillion.
Ferry said that the government is now preparing to enter the operational phase for Kopdes/kel Merah Putih whose physical construction has been completed 100 percent.
“We will enter an important stage, namely the preparation for operationalisation. This is the most determining factor for the success or failure of the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives,” said Minister Ferry.
He conveyed that currently, 34,000 physical buildings of warehouses, outlets, and equipment across Indonesia have been built, with more than 2,500 of them completed 100 percent.
The 34,000 Kopdes/kel Merah Putih are part of the total of around 83,000 Kopdes/kel Merah Putih across Indonesia that have been established and legally incorporated or have cooperative deeds.
“Those that have completed physical buildings 100 percent will enter operational preparation. Meanwhile, the 34,000 that are being built are targeted to be completed in the next one to two months and enter the operational stage,” said the Minister.
Ferry hopes that his side can focus on this operational stage, given its very important role in the success of the Kopdes/kel Merah Putih programme in line with the instructions of President Prabowo Subianto.
“We must focus and re-consolidate all the strengths of the Ministry of Cooperatives and its apparatus to face the most challenging phase, namely the operations of the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives,” said Ferry.
Previously, Minister Ferry targeted that in August and September 2026, there will be 10,000 Kopdes/kel Merah Putih that complete the physical construction process.
“Insya Allah, gradually in August and September, there will be another 10,000 that are completed,” he said.
The Kopdes/kel Merah Putih in each village and urban village will later sell basic necessities, including subsidised goods, daily essentials, and everyday needs. In addition, Kopdes/kel Merah Putih will also serve as medicine outlets and village clinics, as well as venues for microfinance institution activities, warehousing, and logistics.