Opening Positions for 30,000 Managers: What is the Merah Putih Village Cooperative?

One of President Prabowo Subianto’s programmes, the Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperative (Kopdes), is conducting a large-scale recruitment. The government is opening applications for 30,000 Kopdes Merah Putih managers, who will subsequently be appointed as employees of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). “Registration opens today. Please announce it openly from today, 15 April 2026, until 24 April 2026,” said Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan, or Zulhas, during a meeting at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs office in Jakarta on Wednesday (15/4/2026). Zulhas assured that the national recruitment for 30,000 Kopdes Merah Putih managers will select the best candidates. “There are no special channels, no recommendations, and no guarantees of passing from any party,” said Zulhas. So, what is the Kopdes Merah Putih that is opening positions for 30,000 managers? Let us get to know it: During a retreat held from 21 to 28 February 2025, Prabowo emphasised the importance of forming Kopdes as an effort to enhance food security. On 3 March 2025, Prabowo announced the launch of 80,000 Kopdes Merah Putih, to be launched during the commemoration of National Cooperative Day on 12 July 2025. The formation of Kopdes Merah Putih aims to strengthen village economies and improve community welfare through cooperatives. “Strategic, integrated, coordinated, and collaborative steps are needed among ministries/institutions and local governments to optimise and accelerate the formation of Merah Putih Village/Urban Village Cooperatives,” Prabowo stressed, as quoted from the official website of the Ministry of State Secretariat (Kemensteneg). This presidential instruction contains six directives addressed to ministers and heads of agencies/institutions in the Merah Putih Cabinet up to local governments.