Prabowo Shares Origin of Red-and-White Village Cooperative Idea

President Prabowo Subianto has detailed the long-standing inspiration behind Indonesia's Red-and-White Village Cooperative project, a concept he has nurtured for decades. The idea took root during his time in the Indonesian National Army when he witnessed firsthand the struggles of rural communities facing food shortages and poverty.

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I saw people dying of starvation and I couldn't do anything because my food was limited to my company.

Recounting a poignant experience of seeing someone die of starvation, Prabowo felt compelled to act. "I saw people dying of starvation and I couldn't do anything because my food was limited to my company," he stated during a National Cooperative Day event in Jakarta. This personal encounter fueled his determination to create prosperity in villages, which he believes are the bedrock of Indonesia's strength and independence.

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From there, I saw that we must maintain and preserve our capabilities in the villages. Indonesia's independence, our struggle for independence, our strength lies in the villages.

Prabowo highlighted that the cooperative aims to address the cycle of debt faced by vulnerable communities. With low and uncertain incomes, many villagers resort to high-interest loans from loan sharks to meet urgent needs. "There is no other way. Our people must have the opportunity to borrow money at low interest rates. The answer is that there must be savings and loan cooperatives in every village across the Republic of Indonesia," he asserted.

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There is no other way. Our people must have the opportunity to borrow money at low interest rates. The answer is that there must be savings and loan cooperatives in every village across the Republic of Indonesia.

Furthermore, the President envisions the Red-and-White Village Cooperative as a crucial channel for distributing subsidized goods, preventing misuse and ensuring they reach the intended recipients. This initiative underscores Prabowo's commitment to strengthening the village economy and improving the livelihoods of ordinary Indonesians.

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Almost all subsidized goods can be distributed through cooperatives so they are not misused. Because many subsidized goods are misappropriated and do not reach the people.