Cooperatives in Indonesia and Malaysia Expand into Coffee and Eco‑Tourism

In Karanganyar, Indonesia, the Merah Putih village cooperative (Koperasi Kelurahan Merah Putih) has opened a coffee shop called Kopi Desa Merah Putih to attract young customers and generate income for the local community. The venture is funded entirely by the cooperative’s founders and aims to create a permanent cooperative outlet while exploring partnerships with local coffee farmers.

In Sarawak, Malaysia, officials highlighted the cooperative sector’s role in promoting eco‑tourism. Deputy Premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Deputy Trade Minister Malcolm Mussen Lamoh emphasized that cooperatives can help develop sustainable tourism, support small‑scale enterprises, and generate community benefits. The government cited over 16,000 cooperatives nationwide, serving 7.33 million members and holding assets exceeding RM 186 billion, as a strong economic base for future eco‑tourism projects.