Palembang, The Indonesia Post – South Sumatra Governor H. Herman Deru reaffirmed the province’s readiness to take part in the nationwide launch of Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Merah Putih Village Cooperatives), which will be officially inaugurated virtually by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto. The program involves the simultaneous establishment of 80,000 cooperatives across the country.
“This initiative is a brilliant idea from the President, introduced during the national retreat, as a strategic step to distribute economic activity all the way to rural areas,” Herman Deru said in his remarks before attending the simultaneous launch in Musi Rawas Regency on Monday (July 21, 2025).
He emphasized that despite the lack of detailed technical guidelines from the central government, local cooperatives must remain proactive. “Waiting for technical guidance does not mean staying idle. Cooperative leaders must be responsive, start moving, and prepare the necessary infrastructure,” he stressed.
The governor also underlined the importance of collective spirit and cooperation among members. “The Merah Putih Cooperatives will thrive only if members put aside personal interests and work together for the progress of their villages and communities,” he added.
Herman Deru further highlighted transparency, fair compensation for cooperative managers, and the integration of cooperative values into school curricula to instill the spirit of cooperativism from an early age.
“This cooperative is special because it requires only one license from the state, which shows how much trust the government places in cooperatives as the backbone of rural economic development,” he noted.
He also instructed the Provincial Cooperative Office to immediately conduct short training programs to strengthen professionalism in cooperative management. In addition, he urged cooperatives to establish intensive communication with all stakeholders.
The event also featured the signing of cooperation agreements between state-owned/regional enterprises (BUMN/BUMD) and seven Village Cooperative outlets.
(mhn/ril)
Comment