Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that his ministry is following the proposal of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who requested that the plan to import 105,000 pickup trucks and lorries from India for the operational needs of the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (Kopdes) be postponed. Purbaya explained that this move aligns with the President’s directive to prioritize the domestic automotive industry. “Since Mr. Dasco already commented yesterday, we will follow his suggestion,” Purbaya said at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

Therefore, he believes that the procurement of operational vehicles for Kopdes Merah Putih should adhere to the policy of promoting national industry.

“If the President’s objective is to boost domestic industry, I think his position on this matter is very clear,” he added.

Previously, Purbaya had stated that the plan by PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara to import 105,000 pickup vehicles to support the operations of Kopdes Merah Putih would not place additional pressure on the state’s fiscal condition.

According to him, Kopdes Merah Putih is financed through loans from the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara). As a result, the Ministry of Finance will repay the loan obligations at around Rp40 trillion per year over the next six years. “From my perspective, the risk is clear and there is no additional fiscal burden. Each year, part of the funds is reallocated from the village fund budget, meaning the annual spending amount remains the same. The only change is in the spending mechanism. That is how the financing works,” Purbaya said during the February 2026 edition of the APBN KiTa press conference in Jakarta on Monday (February 23, 2026).

Meanwhile, President Director of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara (Persero), Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, confirmed that there has been no decision to postpone the import of 105,000 vehicles from India. He stated that he would first communicate the import plan to those who have requested a delay, including Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad. “Regarding the import documents and contracts, I will seek time to meet Mr. Dasco to explain the matter directly, as he may have only heard one side so far. I will try to arrange a meeting with him,” Joao said at a press conference at his office in Jakarta on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

Currently, Agrinas is processing the import of 35,000 units of 4x4 pickup vehicles from Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), as well as 35,000 units of 4x4 pickups and 35,000 units of six-wheel trucks from Tata Motors.

Joao explained that all these vehicles are intended to support the operations of the Red and White Village/Subdistrict Cooperatives (KDKMP). He also asserted that opposition to the vehicle imports comes from certain individuals or specific groups, rather than from the government or the public at large. “Who exactly is opposing this? We are a state-owned enterprise and fully comply with the government and the people. Our loyalty is to the state and the public, not to certain individuals or groups who object,” he stated.