BSI's Presence in Dubai can Intensify Indonesia-UAE Relations: Erick Thohir
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7 November 2021 10:49 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir expressed hope that the presence of state-run Islamic bank PT Bank Syariah Indonesia Tbk (BSI) in Dubai would fortify Indonesia's relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
"The presence of BSI in Dubai is expected to not only contribute to development of the sharia banking industry in Indonesia, but it would also strengthen Indonesia's relations with Middle Eastern countries, specifically the UAE," he remarked.
"This is especially since the UAE is one of the global investment centers in which Dubai is the global sharia finance center," he noted in a written statement received on Saturday.
Thohir expects the BSI to optimize the business potential in Dubai and become a bridge between Indonesia and global investors, so that they would invest their funds in government projects in the nation.
"Of course, BSI's presence in Dubai is expected to allow easier access for all stakeholders to find finance services and information to empower the export and import business to the Middle East," he elaborated.
This should be encouraged to strengthen growth and resilience of Indonesia's economy, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.
BSI remains committed to supporting the SOEs Go Global Program. The BSI had reported to Thohir on Friday of having received a letter of incorporation from the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).
The letter signifies that the biggest Islamic bank in Indonesia can officially open its market in the Middle Eastern territory.
With it, BSI officially became a part of DIFC. This brings BSI a step closer to its goal of becoming a key player in the global sharia banking industry.
Thohir noted that this marks BSI's first step within the global market. BSI will become the first bank from Indonesia to have a representative office in the Middle Eastern territory.
With this expansion, BSI is expected to be able to realize its mission of ranking among the Top 10 Global Islamic Banks based on market capitalization in 2025.
Read: Luhut Meets Saudi Arabia Minister, Offers Investment in Bank Syariah Indonesia
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