PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (BRI) continues to accelerate the strengthening of Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives Merah Putih (KDKMP) as a partner of the government. Most recently, BRI participated in the “Socialization of Business Proposal Creation and KDKMP Financing” event. This initiative aims to enhance the capacity of cooperative leaders to access financing and manage institutions professionally.

Government and BRI Collaborate to Empower Village Cooperatives

The event took place at the Pendopo of Sidoarjo Regency, East Java, on Tuesday (9/9/2025). It was attended by Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN) Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo, BRI Deputy President Director Agus Noorsanto, BRI Commercial Banking Director Alexander Dippo Paris, and Sidoarjo Deputy Regent Mimik Idayana. Also present were Danantara Operational Holding MD Setyanto Hantoro and directors from other BUMN entities.

In his remarks, Kartiko Wirjoatmodjo stated that the event is a key step to help village cooperatives manage their businesses professionally. He mentioned that the government, through BUMN, would offer captive business opportunities to cooperatives to fulfill basic community needs at reasonable prices. “Going forward, we hope cooperatives can develop businesses based on each region’s potential, such as rice milling, ecotourism, and others,” he said.

Kartiko added that financing disbursement is targeted for late September or, at the latest, early October 2025. This is in line with government efforts to position KDKMP as a realistic and accountable financing breakthrough with digitally recorded and responsible management. “In the next six months to one year, policy focus will be directed there. Therefore, villagers need to ensure this business program is well-implemented before submitting it to state-owned banks,” he said.

Capacity Building Through Business Proposal and Financing Workshops

Agus Noorsanto emphasized BRI’s commitment to supporting government programs by facilitating KDKMP leaders and village heads in East Java. The support includes training on business proposal drafting and the financing submission mechanism to Himbara banks.

“Of course, we will continue to collaborate with various parties, because this is a shared responsibility among stakeholders to empower communities, including with local cooperative agencies,” said Agus Noorsanto.

Deputy Regent of Sidoarjo, Mimik Idayana, expressed optimism that cooperatives could grow independently and improve the community’s competitiveness. “KDKMP will become the driving force of the people’s economy with support from BUMN and BRI. We hope this event becomes a starting point for cooperatives to strengthen their competence and competitiveness in the future. We believe Sidoarjo will grow rapidly with the presence of Koperasi Desa Merah Putih,” she said.

Digitalization and Financial Inclusion via AgenBRILink

One of BRI’s concrete supports for KDKMP is through the presence of AgenBRILink, which has become an integral part of cooperative operations. Through the AgenBRILink network, cooperatives can facilitate various financial transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, bill payments, top-ups, and installment payments, in an accessible and affordable manner for rural residents.

AgenBRILink enhances access to closer and more inclusive financial services and strengthens the role of cooperatives as local economic centers. As of the first half of 2025, there are 1.2 million AgenBRILink agents spread across more than 67,000 villages in Indonesia, including remote, frontier, and outermost regions (3T areas).

Village Cooperatives as Catalysts for Regional Economic Potential

The Village/Kelurahan Cooperatives Merah Putih (KDKMP) were officially inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto on July 21, 2025, in Bentangan Village, Klaten, Central Java. A total of 80,081 KDKMP units have been legally established and are operating in their respective areas.

These cooperatives utilize available village or urban assets, including previously underutilized resources, and optimize local economic potential. With this foundation, KDKMPs are expected to strengthen the role of cooperatives as independent, productive, and sustainable economic hubs within rural communities.

PHOTO: BRI

This article was created with AI assistance.