December 10, 2025 | 02:49 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta announced that three Indonesian banks are poised to open branch offices in key Middle Eastern countries.
“In the near future, we will push for Indonesian banks to establish branches in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),” Anis stated during a gathering with Islamic educational institutions in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday night, December 9, 2025, as reported by Antara.
He identified the three institutions currently willing to pursue this expansion as Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), Bank Mandiri, and BNI.
“Given the rapid growth of the Indonesian population in those countries, we are beginning to build infrastructure. Moving forward, we plan to optimize international flights; this facility is currently being developed,” Anis explained the rationale.
Anis emphasized that this move is expected not only to benefit Indonesian citizens residing abroad but also to create business opportunities linking Indonesia with the Middle East and neighboring countries. During recent bilateral visits, he noted business interest in Indonesia from nations like India and Algeria.
“They were pleased with our discussions. We have received invitations to visit their countries, as they are curious about our next steps and approach,” he added.
To support this economic focus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a new directorate-general specifically dedicated to the economy, viewed as a strategic effort to manage and expand business dealings with foreign nations. Furthermore, this strategic goal will be bolstered by a plan to gradually open Foreign Ministry desks in all Indonesian provinces, enabling the ministry to better identify and explore regional business potential.
Anis also provided a geopolitical context for the strategy, highlighting the current global instability. He stressed that Europe is facing an extraordinary crisis. Moreover, the ongoing economic conflict between America and China is expected to stifle new investment from Western countries, preventing it from entering the Chinese market.
“No new technology will enter, and the Chinese market is starting to close off in various sectors,” he observed.
Therefore, he concluded, the Ministry is actively exploring diverse business opportunities, with the opening of bank branches in the Middle East serving as a strategic entry point for broader economic engagement.
Read: Indonesia Sets Aside Rp23.7 Trillion for Food Barns in 2026 State Budget
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