BENGKULU – The Minister of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions (Mendes PDT), Yandri Susanto, reviewed the progress of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative (Kopdes) at two locations: Palaksiring Village and Sukamaju Village.

The visit was conducted to ensure that the acceleration of community-based economic equality is proceeding according to plan.

Minister Yandri stated that the Merah Putih Cooperative is one of the state's instruments for achieving economic distribution, aligned with President Prabowo Subianto's 6th Asta Cita vision: building from the villages and the grassroots to achieve economic parity and poverty eradication.

“These cooperatives serve as a state tool for economic distribution and poverty alleviation. Because the money circulates within the village, the profits stay in the village,” said Minister Yandri.

The Merah Putih Cooperative is a breakthrough in the village economy, featuring a modern retail concept. Although it offers complete services and displays similar to large supermarkets—providing everything from fertilizer and basic necessities to LPG—the cooperative holds a mission significantly different from the private sector.

"The Merah Putih Cooperative will not only absorb local village labor, but those who enjoy the cooperative's profits are the villagers themselves as cooperative members," Minister Yandri added.

Minister Yandri emphasized the fundamental difference between the village cooperatives and modern retail chains such as Indomaret or Alfamart.

While in conventional retail, business profits are withdrawn by large-scale investors, the village cooperative circulates all profits back into the village.

"The Merah Putih Cooperative is the antithesis of an economic model that concentrates wealth among a few individuals. Here, 100 percent of the profits return to the village community," Minister Yandri asserted.

In addition to the direct benefits felt by consumers through the availability of comprehensive goods, the cooperative is mandated to provide a tangible contribution to village development.

Based on the established scheme, a minimum of 20% of net profits is allocated as Village Original Income (PADes).

"The remaining profits are used for business development and social programs for the village community," said Minister Yandri.

Minister Yandri expressed hope that the presence of these cooperatives in Palaksiring and Sukamaju would reduce the community's dependence on urban logistics distribution while strengthening purchasing power at the grassroots level.

The government remains optimistic that if this cooperative model is successful and replicated nationally, Indonesian villages will no longer merely be markets for external products, but will instead become the capital owners of their own economic cycles.

Teks: Firman/Kemendes PDT