Zulhas States Himbara Banking Services to be Available at Village Cooperatives
The Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan (Zulhas), stated that the Merah Putigu Village and Sub-district Cooperatives (Kopdes/KDKMP) Merah Putih will introduce several banking services from Himbara state-owned banks. This move is intended to provide greater ease for the public in accessing banking services.
“KDKMP is also being prepared to provide banking services through Himbara banks, ultra-micro financing through PNM, logistics services in collaboration with Pos Indonesia, as well as over-the-counter and limited over-the-counter medicines through Kimia Farma. This cooperation will be formalised through agreements with each respective party,” Zulhas said in a written statement on Tuesday (30/09/2026).
He revealed this following a Coordination Meeting on the Development of the Merah Putih Village and Sub-district Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) at the Coordinating Ministry for Food Affairs Office, Jakarta, on Tuesday (29/09).
Zulhas emphasised that the presence of Kopdes Merah Putih is not intended to function as a supermarket. Instead, Kopdes Merah Putih is being established as government infrastructure to ensure the distribution of aid and subsidised goods reaches the intended targets.
“This cooperative is not a supermarket, but rather government infrastructure to support the distribution of subsidies, food aid, 3kg LPG, fertiliser, financial services, electricity payments, and various other community needs,” said Zulhas.
Through these various services, Zulhas expressed hope that Kopdes Merah Putih would be able to serve as a new centre for economic activity for people in villages.
“Through the completion of manager placements and service collaborations, the government is encouraging KDKMP that have been completed to immediately perform their functions as centres for economic activity and community services in villages and sub-districts. This is so that the benefits can be felt by the community immediately,” he concluded.