MANOKWARI – The Government of Papua Barat Province is preparing concrete steps to establish Koperasi Merah Putih at the subdistrict and village levels across seven districts, in line with Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9 of 2025. In discussions held in Manokwari, the Head of the Cooperatives and SMEs Office of Papua Barat, Enos Aronggear, outlined three main strategies that will be implemented to follow up on the Inpres: the establishment, development, and revitalization of cooperatives.
“Re-inventorizing existing cooperatives is very important to determine which ones require development and which need revitalization,” Enos stated on Thursday (April 10). He added that this process involves collaboration with various regional organizations (OPD) within the provincial government to ensure that the classification of Koperasi Merah Putih aligns with the potential of each village and subdistrict.
The establishment of new cooperatives that fit local potential will be coordinated with the district governments throughout Papua Barat. For instance, a Koperasi Merah Putih for agriculture may be established in Village A based on the local needs and resources available.
In terms of funding, the establishment of Koperasi Merah Putih will utilize various sources, including the National Budget (APBN), the Provincial and District Budget (APBD), as well as Village Budget (APBDes). Moreover, the management of the cooperatives will adhere to the regulations outlined in Law Number 17 of 2012 concerning cooperatives, which mandates that each member must hold basic savings, mandatory savings, and voluntary savings.
With these steps, the Government of Papua Barat is determined to enhance the local economy and empower the community through cooperatives based on the potential of each region.
