JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has reaffirmed its focus on expanding the benefits of The Red and White Cooperative so that they are truly felt by village communities. The cooperative is seen as a means of strengthening the local economy and empowering village-based communities.

Papua Governor Matius Fakhiri made the statement after a meeting with Deputy Minister of Cooperatives Farida Farichah in Jakarta on Thursday (February 5, 2026). The meeting discussed strengthening the implementation of The Red and White Cooperative as a national priority program aimed directly at supporting the people's economy.

The Governor explained that Papua has 999 villages, all of which have long been encouraged to establish cooperatives. However, under the Red and White Cooperative scheme, there are currently only 10 outlets spread across three regencies/cities. This situation has become a serious concern for the provincial government.

"We want to ensure that this cooperative does not merely exist on paper, but truly functions and provides real benefits to village communities," Fakhiri said.

According to him, the Red and White Cooperative is designed as a center of community economic activity, ranging from the distribution of necessities to the strengthening of productive businesses at the village level. Therefore, accelerating its development requires the active involvement of local governments down to the regency and city levels.

The Papua Provincial Government will coordinate with all regional heads to ensure that each area is prepared. The Papua Provincial Cooperative Office has also been instructed to take a more active role in overseeing the program's implementation, including aiding and monitoring in the field.

The Governor emphasized that the success of The Red and White Cooperative will be an important foundation for promoting village economic independence and strengthening the people's economy in Papua. The provincial government hopes the benefits of this program will soon be widely felt by the community. ***