With the tagline “Building Village Cooperatives, Prosperous Indonesia,” the Merah Putih Cooperatives initiative is a strategic move aimed at strengthening food and economic independence through cooperative-based development. “The President is set to launch the village and urban cooperatives here on July 21, 2025,” remarked Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan during a recent visit to the Merah Putih Cooperatives in Bentangan.
“I informed the President during our meeting in Brazil that Central Java is ready. He can launch it anytime he wishes,” he added. This program is a direct mandate from President Prabowo, emphasizing the significance of its success. “I reported that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives, stemming from the President’s vision, must not fail. If they do, people’s trust in cooperatives will be lost,” Zulhas explained.
Zulhas highlighted that the launch will see substantial participation from local leaders, with 83,000 village heads from across Indonesia expected to attend. “At least 83,000 village heads nationwide, along with 80,000 local government representatives, 514 regents, and 38 governors will participate. In Central Java alone, we anticipate about 8,000 village heads, not to mention around 10,000 additional invitees,” he elaborated.
The event is set to include 80,000 cooperatives across Indonesia, with 78,000 of them already prepared. Meanwhile, Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi confirmed the region’s readiness for this national agenda, stating that all Merah Putih cooperatives within the province have legal status. “All 8,523 cooperatives in Central Java are legally established, making us the first region to achieve 100% compliance,” Luthfi affirmed.
Luthfi sees these cooperatives as instrumental in empowering villages and expressed his commitment to actively oversee their implementation. “Indirectly, this initiative will empower our villages through the Merah Putih Cooperatives, as per the President’s policy. The local governors, including bupati and supervisory councils, will oversee the implementation on the ground,” he clarified.
He reassured that Central Java is fully prepared to host the launch, with all security and technical arrangements in place. “On Friday (July 18), we will conduct a rehearsal, followed by a dry run on Saturday, and a final rehearsal on Sunday, ensuring everything is ready by Monday. This preparation is crucial, especially since we expect nearly 9,000 personnel, including VVIP officials,” he concluded.
The launch of the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives will be graced by President Prabowo Subianto, along with key ministers including Zulkifli Hasan and Yandri Susanto, as well as other prominent officials. Additionally, 8,000 village heads from Central Java and 103 mock-up cooperatives will participate virtually.
The event will take place at the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (KDMP) in Bentangan, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency on July 21, 2025. You can witness the launch live on the detikcom website. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this historic moment for the Merah Putih Village/Urban Cooperatives!
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