Desa Bentangan in Wonosari, Klaten, is gearing up to host the launch of 80,000 Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives, with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in attendance. Preparations are well underway for the event, scheduled to take place on July 21, 2025, at the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) Bentangan in Klaten. Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi has announced that the region is ready to welcome this significant national agenda and confirmed that all Merah Putih Cooperatives in the area are legally recognized.
“All 8,523 cooperatives in Central Java are now legally established, making us the first province to have 100 percent recognition,” Luthfi shared recently. He emphasized the vital role of these cooperatives in empowering villages and committed to overseeing the program to ensure its success. “Indirectly, this will strengthen our villages through the Merah Putih Cooperatives, in line with President’s policy. The governors, mayors, and municipal supervisors are here to ensure everything runs smoothly,” he explained.
Luthfi further detailed the logistics, stating that the preparation for the launch includes rehearsal sessions on July 18 and 19, ensuring that by Monday, everything would be ready. “We want to avoid any travel issues, as nearly 9,000 personnel, including high-ranking officials, will be attending,” he noted.
With just four days to go, the launch event, themed “Empowering Village Cooperatives for a Prosperous Indonesia,” will feature President Prabowo Subianto personally gracing the occasion. “The President, God willing, will officially launch these cooperatives here on July 21,” said Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, during a recent visit to the Merah Putih Cooperative in Bentangan. “I assured the President during our discussions in Brazil that Central Java is ready and can adapt to any schedule,” he added.
Zulhas emphasized that the Merah Putih Cooperative initiative comes directly from President Prabowo’s vision, underlining its importance. “We must ensure the success of this program. If these cooperatives fail, it will diminish trust among the people,” he asserted. The grand launch aims to encompass 80,000 cooperatives across Indonesia, with 78,000 already prepared to roll out.
Significantly, the launch will also see participation from village heads nationwide, totaling at least 83,000 village heads, along with 80,000 BPD members, 514 regents, and 38 governors. In Central Java alone, approximately 8,000 village heads will be present, enhancing the event’s significance.
Notably, the event will feature President Prabowo, key ministers, and the heads of BUMN, along with 8,000 village heads from Central Java. Additionally, 103 mock-up Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives will participate virtually. The launch ceremony will be streamed live on detik.com starting at 09:45 AM WIB. Be sure not to miss this historic moment!
