JG, Antara, Jakarta – Indonesia has deployed army personnel to support the nationwide distribution of imported pickup trucks from India to rural cooperatives, as the government accelerates a large-scale logistics program aimed at boosting village economies.
Boyolali, a small town in Central Java, received the first batch of 71 units through local military district commands (Kodim) on Thursday, according to state news agency Antara.
Similar procedures have been implemented over the past few weeks in regions receiving the vehicles, with the military playing a key role in logistics and coordination at the local level.
Cooperatives Minister Ferry Juliantono said last month that thousands of pickup trucks and transport vehicles had already been distributed to rural cooperatives, though he did not disclose exact figures.
The initiative is tied to the government's "Koperasi Merah Putih" program, which aims to establish around 80,000 cooperatives nationwide to stimulate local economic activity and create jobs. More than 3,100 cooperatives, along with supporting offices and warehouses, have been set up so far.
The government is targeting the establishment of 34,000 such cooperatives within the next two months.
State-owned food and agriculture firm Agrinas Pangan Nusantara is responsible for procuring 105,000 fully built pickup trucks and transport vehicles from Indian manufacturers Mahindra and Tata Motors for distribution to the cooperatives.
Mahindra has been contracted to supply 35,000 units of its Scorpio pickup model, while Tata Motors will deliver 35,000 Yodha pickups and 35,000 Ultra T.7 trucks.
The $1.5 billion procurement has drawn criticism, particularly as it comes amid President Prabowo Subianto's campaign to promote domestic products. Critics have also questioned whether the decision was made without parliamentary oversight and whether it complies with local content requirements.
Indonesia's automotive industry has also raised concerns, noting that domestic production capacity for pickup vehicles remains underutilized.