President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita vision includes the creation of Merah Putih Village Cooperatives (Kopdes Merah Putih) to achieve economic self-reliance and equitable development. According to Fithra Faisal, a Senior Expert at the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) in Jakarta, this initiative reflects the President’s commitment to building economic equity and eradicating poverty from the grassroots level up.
At the launch of over 80,000 Kopdes Merah Putih cooperatives in Bentangan Village, President Prabowo emphasized the importance of economic independence for the well-being of the people. These cooperatives are seen as engines of inclusive economic growth, aligning with Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s philosophy of development as freedom.
Kopdes Merah Putih aims to empower communities by providing resources such as storage warehouses and cold storage facilities to increase the value and income of farmers and fishers. By reducing dependency on middlemen and creating new rural jobs, these cooperatives also help prevent youth migration to urban centers.
Fithra highlighted the importance of bottom-up development through cooperatives, enabling communities to participate meaningfully in the development process. Through these initiatives, President Prabowo hopes to boost rural economies and enhance the quality of life for those involved, ultimately advancing true independence through economic equity.
