Minister of Cooperatives to swiftly prepare operational phase for Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono stated that the government is now preparing to enter the operational phase for the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives, whose physical construction has been completed 100 per cent.

“We will enter an important stage, namely the preparation for operationalisation. This is the most important and will determine the success or failure of the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives,” said Minister Ferry during the Halalbihalal event at the Ministry of Cooperatives in Jakarta on Monday.

Ferry conveyed that currently, 34,000 physical buildings for warehouses, outlets, and equipment have been recorded across Indonesia, with at least more than 2,500 of them having completed 100 per cent of their physical construction.

He mentioned that the 34,000 Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives are part of a total of approximately 83,000 such cooperatives throughout Indonesia that have been established and are legally incorporated or possess cooperative deeds.

“Those that have completed 100 per cent physical construction (will enter) operational preparation. But the 34,000 (Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives) that are being built, which (are targeted to) be completed in the next 1-2 months, God willing, will also prepare for the operational stage,” said the Minister.

Furthermore, Ferry hopes that his side will be able to focus on this operational stage, given its very important role in the success of the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives programme in accordance with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives.

“We must focus, re-consolidate all the strength of the Ministry of Cooperatives and all its ranks to face the most challenging phase, namely the operation of the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives,” said Ferry.

Previously, Minister Ferry targeted that in August and September 2026, there will be 10,000 Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives that have completed the physical construction process.

“God willing, gradually in August and September there will be another 10,000 that are completed, and so on,” he said in Surabaya, East Java, on Sunday (29/3).

In the future, the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives in every village and urban village will sell and serve as outlets for staple goods, including subsidised items, basic necessities, and daily needs.

In addition, the Red and White Village/Urban Village Cooperatives will also function as medicine outlets and village clinics, as well as venues for microfinance institution activities, warehousing, and logistics operations.