Menkop Ferry Reveals Modernization Of The Red And White Kopdes Key To Attracting Young People's Interests

Minister of Cooperatives Ferry Juliantono. (Photo: ANTARA)

Minister of Cooperatives (Menkop) Ferry Juliantono said modernization is the key to attracting the interest of the younger generation to be actively involved in the development of the Red and White Village Cooperative (Kopdes/Kel Merah Putih).

"Interesting on the interest of young people in addition to rebranding, we must also prove that cooperatives will be modernly managed. If they are modern, young people don't need to be told, they will definitely want to work in village cooperatives," Ferry said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, November 3.

"Village cooperatives will be encouraged to adopt a digital management system, financial transparency, and the use of technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) to increase efficiency and competitiveness," he said, explaining.

Ferry said the Ministry of Cooperatives has also prepared a mentoring ecosystem that includes business assistants, project management officials (PMO), a prosecutor-based surveillance system, and a village cooperative management information system (Simkopdes).

"The Ministry of Cooperatives has recruited 1,104 PMOs stationed in 38 provinces and 514 regencies/cities, as well as 8,000 business assistants to assist cooperative management in the field," he continued.

Cooperative workers will also be provided with training to increase the capacity and competence of cooperative management.

By the end of October 2025, 82,320 Kopdes/Kel Merah Putih had been established throughout Indonesia, with hundreds of them operating.

The government targets all village cooperatives to start operating in March 2026, in line with the acceleration of the construction of outlets and warehouses by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara (Persero) in accordance with Presidential Instruction Number 17 of 2025 concerning the Acceleration of Physical Development of Outlets, Warehouses, and Completeness of the Red and White Kopdes/Kel.

According to the Presidential Instruction (APBN), funding for the physical development of village cooperatives comes from the state budget (APBN), regional revenue and expenditure budgets (APBD), as well as other legitimate and non-binding sources in accordance with statutory provisions.

Ferry mengatakan, Kopdes/Kel Merah Putih berpotensi menciptakan hingga satu juta lapangan kerja baru pada akhir Desember 2025.

Menurut dia, setiap koperasi desa memiliki potensi menyerap 20 hingga 25 tenaga kerja melalui tujuh unit usaha, yakni gerai sembako, klinik, apotek desa, kantor koperasi, unit simpan pinjam, pergudangan, dan logistik.

Ferry said the Red and White Kopdes/Kel have the potential to create up to one million new jobs by the end of December 2025.

According to him, each village cooperative has the potential to absorb 20 to 25 workers through seven business units, namely basic food outlets, clinics, village pharmacies, cooperative offices, savings and loan units, warehousing, and logistics.