MAKASSAR – The government targets the construction of tens of thousands of Merah Putih Village/Sub-district Cooperatives (KDKMP) this year. The program is not intended to compete with traditional grocery stores (warung kelontong) or supermarkets, but rather to serve as a distribution hub for government assistance while driving economic growth and local job creation across rural areas.

To build shared understanding, a National KDKMP Seminar was organized by 10 Village Associations in collaboration with the Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Kemendes PDT).

The seminar aimed to provide a clear understanding of the objectives, benefits, and implementation stages of the program, enabling cooperatives to become key economic drivers at the village and sub-district levels.

This was conveyed by the Minister of Villages and PDT, Yandri Susanto, during the KDKMP Seminar in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday (August 4, 2026).

The event, held at the South Sulawesi Governor's Office and officially opened by the Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs, Zulkifli Hasan, was attended by approximately 500 participants. In addition to members of village associations, attendees included the Governor of South Sulawesi, regents from across the province, heads of the Village Community Empowerment Services (Dinas PMD), heads of the Cooperative Services, academics, and civil society organizations.

Minister Yandri stated that the government remains optimistic that the Merah Putih Village Cooperatives will propel village economies, strengthen the distribution of subsidized goods, and elevate community welfare.

"Regarding land acquisition obstacles in several regions, the government will continue to coordinate with relevant ministries and agencies to ensure cooperative construction stays on track with national targets," Minister Yandri emphasized.

During the seminar, a joint declaration was re-read by representatives of the 10 Village Associations, reiterating their full backing for the KDKMP initiative.

The village associations unanimously agreed that the KDKMP is a national priority program that requires complete support from all stakeholders, including the village associations themselves.

Foto: Andri/Kemendes PDT