Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Government is preparing a strategy to attract dollars held abroad by its citizens, according to Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa.
Purbaya said the government is finalising the strategy and aims to implement it within a month.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace, he noted that the plan will focus on providing incentives. A significant amount of money is sent overseas by Indonesians each month, and such incentives are expected to curb this outflow, he added.
The minister stressed that if the government can retain these dollars, the country’s foreign exchange reserves will rise, reducing the need for foreign currency financing from external sources.
Previously, Bank Indonesia (BI) reported a decline in the country’s foreign exchange reserves. As of August 2025, reserves stood at 150.7 billion USD, down 1.3 billion USD from 152 billion USD in July. This followed an earlier fall in July from 152.6 billion USD at the end of June.
Ramdan Denny Prakoso, Executive Director of BI’s Communication Department, attributed the decrease to government foreign debt repayments and efforts to stabilise the rupiah’s exchange rate amid persistent global financial market uncertainties.
Nevertheless, he affirmed that the current level of foreign exchange reserves remains adequate, equivalent to financing 6.3 months of imports, or 6.1 months of imports plus government foreign debt payments./.
