AS Soroti Penggunaan QRIS & GPN, Tuding Penghambat Perdagangan Bebas? - [Newsline]

Summary

Indonesia's efforts to strengthen its digital sovereignty through domestic payment systems like Kris and GPN have sparked tensions with the United States, which sees these measures as protectionist and limiting market access for companies like Visa and Mastercard. While the US advocates for open market access, Indonesia defends its approach, emphasizing the success and growth of its domestic systems. The ongoing negotiations highlight a broader trade dynamic, where the US’s trade surplus in services, particularly financial services, contrasts with Indonesia’s pursuit of economic independence and regional collaboration in digital payment solutions.

Takeaways

• 😀 Indonesia is working on building its digital economy sovereignty through KRIS and GPN payment systems.
• 😀 The goal of KRIS and GPN is to reduce dependence on foreign payment companies like Visa and Mastercard.
• 😀 The U.S. is concerned that Indonesia's policies are a form of digital protectionism that could limit competition and market access.
• 😀 The U.S. views Indonesia’s local payment systems as a barrier to global innovation and trade in the payment sector.
• 😀 Indonesia's push for digital sovereignty aims to ensure that transaction data remains within the country.
• 😀 U.S. companies like Visa and Mastercard are still operating in Indonesia but could be affected by these policies in the future.
• 😀 Minister Erlangga Hartarto emphasized that the Indonesian government is coordinating with Bank Indonesia and OJK on these issues.
• 😀 Countries like India, Mexico, Thailand, and Vietnam are also facing similar scrutiny from the U.S. over their payment systems.
• 😀 U.S. trade concerns, particularly the trade deficit, are influencing negotiations regarding Indonesia’s payment systems.
• 😀 Indonesia’s local payment systems, such as KRIS, have performed well, with transaction volumes growing significantly in recent years.
• 😀 Indonesia's payment system policies could open the door for collaborations with neighboring countries and even the U.S. in the future.

Q & A

What is the main goal of Indonesia's Kris and GPN systems?

The main goal of Indonesia's Kris and GPN systems is to encourage the use of domestic payment systems, reduce dependency on foreign companies, and ensure that transaction data remains within the country.

Why does the United States oppose Indonesia's Kris and GPN systems?

The United States opposes Indonesia's Kris and GPN systems because they see them as a form of digital protectionism that could limit the access of foreign payment companies like Visa and Mastercard to the Indonesian market, reducing competition and innovation.

How does the United States view the Indonesian digital payment policies?

The United States views Indonesia's digital payment policies, specifically Kris and GPN, as a barrier to fair market access and competition. They believe that these policies may hinder the participation of U.S. payment companies in Indonesia's growing digital economy.

What does Indonesia aim to achieve through the implementation of Kris and GPN?

Indonesia aims to achieve greater control over its digital economy by fostering domestic payment systems, increasing economic sovereignty, and reducing reliance on foreign payment platforms.

What is the response of the Indonesian government to the concerns raised by the United States?

The Indonesian government has coordinated with Bank Indonesia and the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to address the concerns raised by the U.S. They are considering the feedback while maintaining their stance on digital sovereignty and economic independence.

How has Indonesia's digital payment system, Kris, performed in recent years?

Indonesia's Kris system has performed well, with transaction values reaching 229.9 trillion in 2023 and showing continued growth into 2025, indicating the system’s success and the increasing adoption of domestic payment solutions.

What is the potential downside for Indonesia if it switches to using Visa and Mastercard exclusively?

If Indonesia switches to using Visa and Mastercard exclusively, it could hinder the progress of local digital payment systems like Kris and GPN, which have been successful in fostering regional collaboration and economic growth.

How does the U.S. trade surplus in services relate to the issue at hand?

The U.S. has a significant trade surplus in services, including digital payment systems. This surplus is seen as a benefit for the U.S., which may be leveraging it as a negotiating point to push for greater market access for its companies in countries like Indonesia.

What is the broader context of the U.S.'s position on global digital payment systems?

The U.S. is advocating for more global market access for its financial services companies, including payment platforms like Visa and Mastercard. The concerns about protectionism in Indonesia are part of a larger strategy to maintain dominance in global financial services and digital payments.

How can Indonesia balance its digital sovereignty with international trade relationships?

Indonesia can balance its digital sovereignty with international trade relationships by maintaining its domestic digital payment systems like Kris and GPN while also being open to collaboration with other countries and payment platforms, including the U.S., to foster mutually beneficial economic exchanges.