President Prabowo Supports Bank Indonesia's Seven-step Plan to Stabilize the Rupiah

Jakarta: President Prabowo Subianto endorsed seven strategies proposed by Bank Indonesia (BI) to stabilize the Rupiah after recent weakness, underscoring coordinated efforts to support the currency and maintain financial stability.

Governor Perry Warjiyo said the measures were presented during a closed-door meeting with the Financial System Stability Committee at the presidential palace in Jakarta on Tuesday evening.

The first step involves intensifying foreign-exchange market intervention, both onshore and offshore, to steady the Rupiah, backed by what the central bank says are ample foreign-exchange reserves.

"Our reserves are more than sufficient to stabilize the rupiah," Perry said, signaling confidence in the central bank's ability to manage currency volatility.

The second and third strategies focus on strengthening capital inflows and enhancing fiscal-monetary coordination to cushion external pressures on the currency.

Bank Indonesia aims to attract foreign portfolio inflows through its rupiah-denominated securities, thereby offsetting outflows from government bonds and equities.

Perry said foreign portfolio flows remain in positive territory year-to-date, helping underpin the Rupiah despite recent market turbulence.

As part of the third strategy, the central bank will coordinate with the Finance Ministry to purchase government bonds from the secondary market.

Bank Indonesia has bought Rp123.1 trillion (US$7.6 billion) of bonds so far this year and will continue close coordination, including potential government buybacks.

The fourth measure involves maintaining ample liquidity in the banking system and money markets, supported by double-digit growth in base money.

Base money growth was last recorded at 14.1 percent, indicating sufficient liquidity conditions to support financial stability, Perry said.

The fifth strategy introduces tighter limits on US dollar purchases in the domestic market to curb speculative demand.

The monthly cap on dollar purchases without underlying transactions has been reduced to US$50,000 per person from USD100,000.

Authorities are also preparing to lower the threshold further to US$25,000, requiring supporting transactions for larger purchases, Perry said.

The sixth and seventh measures include expanding offshore intervention and tightening supervision of banking and corporate foreign-exchange activities.

Bank Indonesia will allow domestic lenders to participate in offshore non-deliverable forward markets to boost dollar supply and stabilize the Rupiah.

Regulatory oversight will also be strengthened in coordination with the Financial Services Authority to ensure financial system stability, including monitoring institutions with high dollar demand, Perry added.