Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, August 21, 2026 at 07:29 PM

Indonesia's gold bank transforms idle assets into value: Airlangga

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Arnidhya Nur Zhafira, Yashinta Difa

Tangerang, Banten (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s gold bank ecosystem has successfully unlocked the economic value of idle precious metals—transforming them into active, productive financial assets, according to Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto.

Speaking on the sidelines of the SUAR Forum 2026 in Tangerang, on Friday (August 21), Airlangga highlighted that the initiative—launched by President Prabowo Subianto in February 2025—has significantly reshaped how domestic gold reserves are managed and integrated into the national banking system.

"This adds significant economic value, as gold was previously viewed strictly as an unutilized asset within the banking system," Airlangga stated.

Now approximately one year into operation, the bullion ecosystem manages between 153 and 180 tons of gold, holding an estimated financial valuation of Rp360 trillion (roughly US$20 billion).

Airlangga emphasized that the bullion ecosystem holds strong potential for expanded performance, driven by sustained public interest in gold as a long-term safe-haven asset.

Furthermore, the introduction of gold-based Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)—mutual funds backed by gold and traded on the stock exchange—has enhanced market participation.

"This growth is extraordinary because gold has become a safe-haven investment. Moreover, we have promoted gold derivatives, namely ETFs. The potential to attract investment and gold management remains very high," Airlangga added.

Data from the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs as of March 2026 highlights substantial growth across state-backed institutions offering bullion services over the past year.

State-owned lender PT Pegadaian recorded significant operational expansion, seeing its Bullion Financial Services customer base swell from 3.2 million in February 2025 to 5.6 million in February 2026.

This surge in user engagement coincided with a near-doubling of public gold savings held by the firm, which climbed from 10.5 tons to 19.25 tons over the same period.

Similarly, Islamic lender Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) demonstrated strong momentum across its precious metals portfolio.

The bank's total gold assets under management—spanning gold savings, installment products, and pawn services—rose from 16.85 tons prior to its bullion activity launch in January 2025 to 22.5 tons by February 2026.

Demand for BSI's dedicated gold savings accounts experienced a parallel boost, climbing sharply from 531,329 customers in December 2025 to 766,742 account holders in February 2026.

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