TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
BNI leverages international network to support diaspora
PT Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (BNI), with the stock code BBNI, is committed to providing continuous support for the government in exploring every business opportunity in international trade.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
P
T Bank Negara Indonesia Tbk (BNI), with the stock code BBNI, is committed to providing continuous support for the government in exploring every business opportunity in international trade. As a global banking partner, BNI has established five target segments for its international business, one of which is the Indonesian diaspora.
BNI treasury and international director Henry Panjaitan said that apart from the diaspora, BNI is focusing on other targets for international business, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), e-commerce, Indonesian corporations and their subsidiaries, global and regional multinational companies, as well as investors and financial institutions.
“Through its international network, BNI makes strategic efforts to realize international trade connections through the provision of products and services, both banking and beyond,” Henry said.
Henry added that through the products and services, BNI will help its customers to go global by inviting Indonesian companies to expand overseas or export more Indonesian products.
Throughout 2021, BNI disbursed loans worth Rp 2.49 trillion (US$173.49 million) through the Export and Diaspora (Xpora) program, which encourages companies and MSMEs to market their products abroad.
Henry explained that through Xpora, BNI helps MSMEs and exporters grow their overseas markets. BNI’s overseas branch offices are optimized to find buyers, especially among the Indonesian diaspora.
Exporters and importers can regularly meet through BNI’s business matches. Of course, BNI’s presence provides assurance for both parties in realizing their transactions.
“Especially in Hong Kong, this business model has been running quite successfully. There have been many deals between importers — in this case, debtors at the Hong Kong branch offices —and locally-mentored BNI customers,” said Henry.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Consulate General for Hong Kong Slamet Noegroho said the current global situation, especially the COVID-19 pandemic and heated geopolitical issues, has the potential to affect the flow of world trade. However, specifically for Indonesia in 2020-2021, the global situation should not greatly affect Indonesia’s bilateral trade with international communities.
“Last year in 2021, Indonesia recorded the highest trade surplus since 2006, which was $35.34 billion, while our total exports of $231.5 billion grew 41.88 percent from 2020. For Indonesia and Hong Kong, Indonesia recorded an HKD 40.02 million [$5.12 million] increase, or 25 percent, in total trade from 2020, which had topped at HKD 31.88 million. In terms of investment, Hong Kong even became Indonesia’s second-largest foreign investor with a value of $4.6 billion, a 30.4 percent increase from 2020,” Slamet said.
