Indonesia’s Bank and the UAE’s Central Bank to expand cooperation in several sectors

By Gloria Mathias

Bank Indonesia (BI) and the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) have agreed to expand cooperation in several sectors between the two central banks.

The expansion of cooperation is outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Governor of Bank Indonesia, Mr Perry Warjiyo, and the Governor of CBUAE, Mr Khaled Mohamed Balama on 29 December 2023.

The cooperation between the two central banks is an important part of the deliverables of the meeting between the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, and the President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on 1 December 2023, at the sidelines of the COP 28 in Dubai, UAE.

The MOU builds upon a prior agreement between BI and CBUAE signed in 2021, focusing on cooperation in the Payment System and Digital Financial Innovation.

In continuation of this cooperation in 2023, the two central banks are committed to deepening the relationship between the two central banks strengthening the exchange of information and engaging in cooperation across various areas of central banking, consisting of monetary, macro-prudential, financial stability, payment systems, digital financial innovation, and the regulatory and supervisory frameworks within the scope of Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism; as well as areas of Islamic economic and finance. The MOU will be implemented through policy dialogue, technical cooperation, capacity building, and information exchange.

Governor Perry Warjiyo emphasized that this MOU is a significant milestone in strengthening the relationship between BI and CBUAE. The expansion of this cooperation reaffirms the increasingly solid partnership between the two central banks in the future. It also underscores the contribution of the two central banks to countering money laundering and terrorism financing and meeting the Financial Action Task Force recommendations.

Governor Perry also stated that this relationship will lead to mutually beneficial achievements for both central banks and contribute positively to the economy.