President Prabowo Subianto will inaugurate the Koperasi Desa/Kelurahan Merah Putih (Village/Urban Cooperative “Merah Putih”) on July 21, 2025. This initiative is part of the sixth Asta Cita (Visionary Aspiration) of the President, aimed at revitalizing local economies and initiating poverty alleviation at the village level. According to Hasan Nasbi, Head of Presidential Communications, Kopdes Merah Putih is one of three core strategies introduced under the President’s administration to eradicate poverty. The trident of poverty eradication includes health, education, and socio-economic development programs.
Each element of the trident represents a concrete government program: the Free Health Check Program in Schools, the People’s School, and the Kopdes Merah Putih program. These initiatives demonstrate the administration’s commitment to delivering measurable welfare improvements. The Kopdes Merah Putih program was launched through Presidential Instruction No. 9 of 2025 and seeks to build the national economy from the village level upward to reduce inequality and emancipate communities from poverty.
The aim is to also address the root causes of limited access to essential services such as education and healthcare. With 80,000 Kopdes Merah Putih institutions set to be launched, the initiative will empower rural economies, improve food security, and eliminate exploitative practices. Additionally, the program will focus on prosperity for farmers by establishing cooperative offices, savings and loan units, rural clinics, and more to ensure communities have access to essential goods and services.
By cutting out exploitative intermediaries and strengthening rural economies, the Kopdes Merah Putih program aims to boost local businesses and improve access to resources in rural areas. The program’s emphasis on community-driven approaches holds the potential to reduce poverty and create sustainable economic growth across Indonesia.
