Mataram, W Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) – Minister of of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions Yandri Susanto has proposed a moratorium on modern retail permits to redistribute economic growth toward rural areas and reduce the dominance of large-scale investors in the local economy.”In modern retail, 100 percent of the profits are taken by the investors and business owners,” Yandri said during a provincial planning meeting in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Thursday.He stated that modern retailers would be replaced by the Red and White Village Cooperatives. These entities will manage savings, loans, groceries, logistics, pharmacies, and clinics.Under the plan, at least 20 percent of cooperative profits will serve as village revenue. The remaining 80 percent will be redistributed directly to the community through various economic benefits.”With 100 percent of profits remaining and flowing within the village, this becomes a strategy to tackle extreme poverty,” Yandri said, noting the initiative keeps capital local rather than extracting it.The proposal follows rapid expansion by major retailers. In 2025, the number of Alfamart and Indomaret outlets surpassed 40,000 nationwide, with significant penetration into rural heartlands.The government claims nearly 34,000 Red and White Village Cooperatives are currently under development. Of those, approximately 5,500 units have reached 100 percent completion and are ready for operation.Yandri clarified that all cooperative assets, including buildings, warehouses, and vehicles, will belong to the villages rather than the central government. This includes trucks, pickups, and three-wheeled motor vehicles used for logistics.