Jakarta, INTI - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is strengthening technology infrastructure to support the development of the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDKMP), enabling them to become more connected to the digital ecosystem and contribute to people-centered economic growth in Indonesia.
Director of Media Ecosystem at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Farida Dewi Maharani, stated that only around 40 percent of Indonesia’s 60 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have entered the digital ecosystem.
“The digital transformation of MSMEs and village cooperatives cannot progress independently. Collective synergy is needed so that MSMEs can scale up, become more adaptive, and remain sustainable,” Farida said in Jakarta on Thursday.
Telecommunications Infrastructure Expansion
Farida explained that the ministry has been aggressively expanding telecommunications infrastructure across Indonesia.
She noted that 4G network coverage has now reached 98.95 percent of Indonesia’s population, while 5G services are already available in 22 percent of economic centers and urban areas.
“We are directing this infrastructure strengthening effort to ensure village cooperatives and MSMEs become more connected to the internet, gain broader market access, and improve regional competitiveness,” she explained.
According to Farida, villages and subdistricts have strong potential to become new engines of economic growth if supported by adequate connectivity and digital literacy.
Simkopdes Becomes the Foundation of Cooperative Modernization
Assistant Deputy for Cooperative Digitalization at the Ministry of Cooperatives, Riza Azmi, stated that 83,000 KDKMP cooperatives have been established since their launch by President Prabowo Subianto in July 2025.
Riza explained that all cooperatives are equipped with the Village Cooperative Management Information System (Simkopdes) as part of efforts to modernize cooperative governance.
“As part of our commitment to modern governance, Simkopdes serves as the technological foundation for the Red and White Cooperatives. The platform bridges transparency, operational efficiency, and easier access for all members,” Riza said.
Meanwhile, senior journalist and academic from Padjadjaran University, Abie Besman, emphasized that news coverage about village cooperatives needs to be presented in a more engaging way to resonate with the public.
“News needs to have a pulse. Find the news value, what impact it has on society, what the conflict is, what makes it new. If it is not engaging, cooperatives will be difficult to promote to the public,” Abie stated.
He added that cooperative narratives have often been presented in an overly ceremonial manner, making them less relevant in the eyes of the public despite their strong social and humanitarian impact.
Conclusion
Indonesia is accelerating digital transformation at the grassroots level by strengthening telecommunications infrastructure and digital cooperative systems to help village cooperatives and MSMEs become more connected, competitive, and sustainable in the digital economy.
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