Three Ministers Inspect Village Cooperative in Serang, Pledge 20% Profit for Village Revenue
Three ministers visited the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes) in Ciruas, Serang Regency, Banten. The Minister of Village and Underdeveloped Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, stated that 20 per cent of the profits from the Merah Putih Village Cooperative will become village income.
Mendes Yandri said that after the Merah Putih Kopdes operates in each village, local governments can conduct more in-depth considerations regarding new permits for the establishment of minimarket outlets. However, for existing and operating minimarkets, Mendes affirmed that they should continue to carry out their business activities.
“Let us make this Kopdes a success, from, by, and for the people, because at least 20 per cent of all its profits will be returned as village income,” said Yandri in Serang, Tuesday (24 February 2026).
Yandri said that this inter-ministerial collaboration is to advance villages. He cited Desa Ranjeng as a clear example of the success of cross-sectoral synergy, so that the operationalisation of the Merah Putih Kopdes can run smoothly.
“This Kopdes will be an accurate tool in efforts to ensure that the equitable distribution of community welfare truly occurs in the village, so everyone must support the village by providing affirmation through business and economic activities through the Kopdes,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop), Ferry Juliantono, reiterated that the Ranjeng Kopdes in Serang is expected to be managed seriously by the administrators or managers after all the physical buildings have been completed and meet the requirements for operation. In addition, with the participation of recipients of the PKH (Conditional Social Assistance) programme, the number of members will increase, making the potential for faster growth even greater.
“This Kopdes will be an instrument for circulating money in the village of Ranjeng, so it will be an engine of the economy here and, in aggregate, will drive economic growth nationally,” he said.
Nationally, Ferry said, there are currently thousands of Merah Putih Kopdes/Kelurahans, and the construction of their physical assets, including outlets, warehouses and other supporting infrastructure, is confirmed to be complete. Meanwhile, in Serang Regency, there are 8 units of Merah Putih Kopdes/Kelurahans, where 100 per cent of the construction has been completed.
The collaboration carried out across ministries/agencies in accelerating the development of Merah Putih Kopdes/Kelurahans confirms that the government in the era of President Prabowo Subianto has a strong commitment to ensuring that the mandate of the 1945 Constitution, especially Article 33, can be realised through the Merah Putih Kopdes/Kelurahan.
In addition, the Minister of Social Affairs (Mensos), Syaifullah Yusuf (Gus Ipul), emphasised that recipients of social assistance should not only receive protection, but also be directed towards empowerment through village cooperatives. He affirmed the importance of accurate data in the implementation of social programmes in accordance with Presidential Instruction No. 4/2025.
Through this Merah Putih Kopdes, all three strata of community life will be accommodated. Furthermore, he affirmed that the transformation of social assistance recipients into members of village cooperatives is a rational choice.
“If these PKH beneficiaries become members of the Kopdes, at the end of each year they will receive SHU (Surplus of Business Results). This is intended so that mothers and fathers are more empowered, independent, and prosperous,” said Gus Ipul.
(jbr/jbr)