TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) Corporate Secretary Gunawan Arif Hartoyo revealed that his side is awaiting permission from the Saudi Central Bank to open the first BSI branch office in Saudi Arabia.

"From the OJK, we have received approval to open there (Saudi Arabia), and currently, we are trying to get permission from the financial authorities there first," Hartoyo noted in Jakarta, Monday.

Hartoyo stated that BSI is targeting the plan to open a new branch to be realized this year.

However, he remarked that the target may still change, as it depends on the permits being processed by the Saudi Central Bank, the financial authority in Saudi Arabia, which was earlier known as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA).

Hartoyo cannot yet provide information regarding the location of the branch office though adding that his side had submitted a proposal regarding the matter.

"If it is specific to the city, I still cannot tell you about it here because (processing) regulations (permits) are still ongoing," he remarked.

He said the BSI plans to open branch offices in strategic areas that are centers of activity for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims as well as the Indonesian diaspora and business activities.

"We ask for prayers so that the permits we are processing with the local authorities can be issued quickly," he stated.

ANTARA

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