President Prabowo Subianto officially launched the institutionalization of 80,081 Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (KDMP/KKMP) in a ceremony held at the Merah Putih Village Cooperative in Bentangan Village, Wonosari District, Klaten Regency. The President was warmly welcomed upon arrival.

As part of the event, President Prabowo handed over Cooperative Legal Entity Decrees to five cooperative leaders: Bambang Gunarsa (KDMP Bentangan, Klaten), Jamaluddin Adiwijaya (KDMP Sumbung, Boyolali), Parni (KDMP Karangdowo, Klaten), Sumanto (KKMP Banyuanyar, Surakarta), and Rizka Hidayati (KDMP Ceper, Klaten).

A Strategic Movement to Build a Village-Based Economic Ecosystem

Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Food and Chair of the KDMP National Task Force, explained that this cooperative program is part of a larger initiative to build a modern rural economy centered on the interests of the people.

“Today we give birth to a new face of Indonesian cooperatives: the Merah Putih village or urban cooperatives. These cooperatives will serve not only as platforms for production and distribution but also as mechanisms to shorten supply chains, eliminate middlemen and loan sharks, and empower farmers, fishers, and rural economic actors through the principles of mutual cooperation and family-based people's economy,” said Zulkifli.

Koperasi as a National Strategy to Empower the People

In his remarks, President Prabowo stated that cooperatives are a means of struggle for ordinary people to gain economic strength.

He emphasized that launching 80,081 cooperatives represents a strategic national effort, not a small step.

“Today we launch the institutionalization of 80,000 village and urban Merah Putih cooperatives, precisely 80,081 cooperatives. Today is indeed a historic day. We begin a great effort. This cooperative is a large strategic endeavor,” said President Prabowo.

Physical Infrastructure and Microfinance to Support KDMP Operations

President Prabowo conveyed that the cooperatives would be supported by physical infrastructure, including storage warehouses, cold storage, basic goods outlets, pharmacies, and logistics vehicles.

In addition, super-micro loan facilities will be provided to support goods distribution and economic circulation in villages.

“If we have good intentions, strong will, and strong motivation, we can do it. What was impossible becomes possible. Eighty thousand,” he said.

Official Ceremony Marks Launch of Economic Independence Movement

The event concluded with President Prabowo pressing a siren button, marking the start of a large-scale cooperative movement aimed at achieving economic independence for the people of Indonesia.

Attending the event were DPR Chair Puan Maharani, DPD Chair Sultan Bachtiar Najamudin, MPR Deputy Chair Bambang Wuryanto, several Ministers of the Merah Putih Cabinet, and Central Java Governor Ahmad Lutfi.

PHOTO: BPMI SETPRES/MUCHLIS JR

This article was created with AI assistance.