Bank Indonesia expands the cooperation between cross-border payment connectivity using the Indonesian Standard (QRIS) Quick Response Code. QRIS can later be used in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
The use of QRIS in Saudi Arabia according to Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo said this could be useful for the Indonesian people who performed Umrah and Hajj to shop in the Holy Land. Similar to the United Arab Emirates, Perry Warjiyo said that his party had signed a memorandum of understanding or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates. He said this would make it easier for Indonesian people who would be on vacation, for example to Dubai, they could shop using QRIS.
“We have just signed with the United Arab Emirates, so that later if we go to Dubai and all kinds can use QRIS. And now we are exploring Saudi Arabia, the Umrah, Hajj to use QRIS and BI Fast. That is the expansion of expansion,” Perry said in Birama 2023 event at the Bank Indonesia Office, Central Jakarta, Thursday (11/30/2023).
In addition, Bank Indonesia also plans to expand the implementation of QRIS to Japan, China to India. This is the increasing extent of the implementation of QRIS not only with countries in ASEAN.
“And QRIS BI Fast, so we have to expand. Not only to ASEAN four countries, but we are also talking to Japan, we can be a ceremony with China, and one more India,” he explained.
On a different occasion, the Executive Director of Bank Indonesia Communication Department Erwin Haryono explained, initially BI wanted to first work with Saudi Arabia. However, the system in the country is not ready for the implementation of QRIS. Therefore, the implementation of QRIS’s implementation with the United Arab Emirates, considering that many Indonesian migrant workers work in the country.
“I was going with Saudi Arabia because for those who are Hajj Umrah. But the system there is not ready. The United Arab Emirates were finally chosen first because they were ready first and many migrants there,” he explained.
Previously, Perry had revealed that QRIS would be expanded to a number of countries. After Singapore, said Perry, QRIS will be expanded to India, Japan, China, to the United Arab Emirates.
“Fifth, the expansion of the cooperation between QRIS and BI Fast in ASEAN. Also, to India, Japan, China, the United Arab Emirates and a number of other countries, integration with the Local Currency Transaction,” he said at the Annual Meeting of Bank Indonesia (PTBI) at Grha Bhasvara Icchana, Bank Indonesia (BI) Headquarters Complex, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (11/29/2023).
The plan is part of Bank Indonesia’s efforts to encourage a digital payment system in 2024. Bank Indonesia also targets the national financial economic acceleration.
November 30, 2023, detikFinance
(https://finance.detik.com/moneter/d-7065201/ri-arab-saudi-jajaki-kerja-sama-QRIS-bidik-jemaah-haji-umrah)
(https://finance.detik.com/moneter/d-7065087/ri-uea-teken-kerja-sama-QRIS-nanti-bisa-dipakai-di-dubai)