JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government, through the Department of Manpower and Cooperatives, is targeting the establishment of 100 “Koperasi Merah Putih” in 2025, spread across nine regencies and cities.

The Head of the Cooperative Division at the Papua Provincial Department of Manpower and Cooperatives, Gandhi Waromi, stated that the target aligns with the total number of villages in the province, which stands at 948.

Gandhi expressed confidence in the plan to establish cooperatives throughout these nine administrative areas.

“We are very optimistic. Therefore, we will immediately coordinate and consolidate with local governments to ensure the successful establishment and integration of cooperatives across Papua,” he said.

He welcomed the initiative of Koperasi Merah Putih, believing it would significantly stimulate the local economy, especially in rural areas of Papua.

He added that, in line with directives from President Prabowo Subianto, several types of cooperatives will be developed, including:

- Business cooperatives 

- Savings and loan cooperatives 

- Agricultural development cooperatives 

- Warehousing enterprises 

- Health clinic cooperatives

“These types of cooperatives are well-suited for rural regions, such as savings and loan cooperatives. They can assist farmers and fishermen in avoiding predatory online loans,” he explained.

“This cooperative model is comprehensive and represents a beacon of hope for rural communities striving to rise from economic hardship,” he concluded. ***