Jakarta, Sunday (5/3/2023) -- PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. or BNI has a great opportunity to develop business potential on a global scale, one of which is on the African continent. According to United Nations (UN) projections, the continent will be an investment destination in the future with capable economic growth.
This was conveyed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General (Sekjen Kemenlu) Cecep Herawan at the Business Meeting 2023 with the theme Winning Market Share Through Digital and Collaboration Mindset held in Bali, recently.
Cecep said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a mission to target potential markets and strengthen networks on the African continent. According to him, BNI and other State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) can work together to work on strategic projects in the region through government cooperation with business entities or Public Private Partnership (PPP), where SOEs come together through financing, construction and other services.
As an illustration, last year BNI was able to encourage an increase in trade figures by 76.7% and the only State-Owned Bank Association (Himbara) with a wide enough international network to have eight branch offices overseas.
"I think this is an extraordinary capital that we can do together, we have the role of BNI and SOE friends together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, how to expand together to countries that have potential markets. We can actively participate together in international forums," he explained.
On the other hand, Cecep disclosed that the relationship between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BNI has been established for a long time so that they can unite their vision to pursue infrastructure development in ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific.
This is related to the development of green infrastructure, digital transformation, and innovative financing in line with the BNI program. "We want to work with BNI because we have this flagship program in ASEAN Chairmanship. BNI together with us are organizing this forum as a window display of the products and innovations that we have obtained," he explained.
Cecep noted that there are 266 multilateral projects worth USD 238 billion and 140 bilateral projects worth USD 71.4 billion specifically with Indonesia. "This is a great opportunity where BNI can be a major player in it. Our target is at the end of August in the second week, we already have a list of concrete projects from the end of the ASEAN Chairmanship, at this point our collaboration becomes something good," he said.
Besides, Cecep said, BNI is very proactive in developing programs abroad, namely the Diaspora Loan launched with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Tokyo and fostering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). "I strongly believe that the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and BNI has real benefits, we can perceive that in the midst of challenges, there is a glimmer of hope," said Cecep.
On the same occasion, BNI President Director Royke Tumilaar said, the world's geopolitical developments and global economic monetary policy could put pressure on banking performance. However, by looking at the opportunities available, there are still many areas that the company needs to develop through synergy and collaboration across segments, divisions / units in carrying out business execution.
"World economic conditions will be more challenging in 2023. Yet we hope that everything can be passed with full readiness and prudence," Royke said. BNI President Commissioner Agus Martowardojo added that Indonesia remains optimistic that it can overcome the challenges of the world economy.
As is known, when other countries experienced an economic slowdown, Indonesia was one of the few countries that was able to accelerate its growth, supported by relatively good economic fundamentals, recovering public demand and the positive performance of commodity exports. "We must believe that global uncertainty and volatility will improve in 2023," he concluded.