Red and White Village Cooperatives Expand: From Banjarmasin to Papua

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The Village and Kelurahan Cooperative (Kopdes) Merah Putih programme continues to show encouraging developments in various regions, from Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan, Mimika in Central Papua, to Demak in Central Java. This programme, initiated as the engine of the people’s economy, forms part of efforts to achieve equitable economic distribution in line with President Prabowo’s Sixth Asta Cita towards Golden Indonesia 2045. In Banjarmasin, Mayor H Muhammad Yamin HR, along with Commander of the 1007/Banjarmasin Military District Command (Dandim) Lieutenant Colonel Czi Slamet Riyadi, directly monitored the progress of constructing two Kopdes Merah Putih, namely in Tanjung Pagar Kelurahan, South Banjarmasin, and Pemurus Luar Kelurahan, East Banjarmasin. From the monitoring results, the concrete pillar structures at both locations have already begun to stand. “In line with central directives, Kopdes Merah Putih is present as the engine driving equitable economic distribution for residents and business actors. Today we reviewed its progress and hope that its benefits can soon be felt by the community,” said Yamin on Friday. Yamin emphasised that this programme is a strategic collaboration between the Banjarmasin City Government and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) to strengthen community-based economic resilience. He also urged that the work be accelerated on time while still paying attention to building quality for long-term sustainability. The Banjarmasin City Government targets Kopdes Merah Putih not only to function as savings and loan units but also as centres for distributing affordable basic necessities and hubs for marketing local flagship products. Its construction is targeted to be evenly distributed across 52 kelurahan throughout the city. “Cooperatives are empowerment instruments that position the community as the main actors in economic development,” he stressed. Meanwhile, at the eastern end of Indonesia, the Mimika Regency Cooperative and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (UMKM) Office in Central Papua expressed similar optimism. The Kopdes Merah Putih in Atuka Village is scheduled to be inaugurated directly by the Minister of Cooperatives on 9 April 2026. “On 9 April this year, it will be inaugurated, with the Minister present there to inaugurate the cooperative,” said Head of the Mimika Cooperative and UMKM Office Samuel Yogi in Timika on Friday. Yogi explained that the presence of the cooperative in Atuka Village is expected to drive economic growth not only for the local community but also for communities in the broader coastal areas of Mimika. The Kopdes was built using the Mimika Regency Regional Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBD) as a manifestation of the local government’s commitment to the success of this national programme. Mimika Regency itself has formed 152 Kopdes Merah Putih spread across 152 villages and 18 districts. All formed cooperatives have legal entities in the form of notary deeds along with management structures, and now they are just awaiting funding allocations from the central government for their operations. In addition, the Ministry of Cooperatives will also build seven Kopdes Merah Putih units in Timika City this year. In Demak Regency, Central Java, progress is also evident. As many as 33 villages have completed the construction of Kopdes Merah Putih buildings and are now awaiting the provision of supporting facilities and infrastructure for operations from PT Agrinas. “After the delivery of equipment and facilities or infrastructure from PT Agrinas, the next stage is awaiting the physical handover of the buildings to the relevant village governments,” said Commander of the 0716/Demak Military District Command (Kodim) Lieutenant Colonel Arm Donny Romansah in Demak on Sunday.