President Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to inaugurate the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (Village/Urban Cooperative “Merah Putih”) on Monday, July 21, 2025. This initiative is part of the President’s sixth Asta Cita (Visionary Aspiration), aimed at revitalizing local economies and initiating poverty alleviation starting from the village level. Hasan Nasbi, Head of Presidential Communications, explained that Kopdes Merah Putih is part of the administration’s trident of poverty eradication, along with two other core strategies focusing on health, education, and socio-economic development. These concrete government programs aim to deliver tangible welfare improvements, addressing the root cause of limited access to essential services like education and healthcare due to poverty. The Kopdes Merah Putih program, launched through a Presidential Instruction, involves various ministries, agencies, and local government leaders to build the national economy from the village level up, reducing inequality and empowering communities. With the formal launch of 80,000 Kopdes on July 21, the initiative is set to advance modern, inclusive community-driven cooperatives that strengthen rural economies, improve food security, and reduce poverty while eliminating exploitative practices in rural areas. The program’s strategies include establishing new, expanding existing, and revitalizing underperforming cooperatives, promoting direct purchasing of agricultural products, cutting out middlemen, and enhancing access to essential resources for local communities. As Kopdes Merah Putih progresses, its impact on local economies and poverty alleviation is set to be significant, empowering communities and driving sustainable development.
Kopdes Merah Putih: Prabowo’s Engine for Village Economies
