"We have tried step by step to enable bankers to get the same banking access as those in Singapore and Malaysia," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated at a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XI here, on Tuesday.
The working meeting discussed the House Commission XI`s approval of a bill on protocol to implement the sixth commitment package in the financial service sector.
Also present at the meeting were Bank Indonesia Governor Agus Martowardojo, Chief Commissioner of the Financial Service Authority Wimboh Santoso, and Chief Commissioner of the Deposit Insurance Institution Halim Alamsyah.
Indrawati stated that the ratification of the 6th protocol of AFAS will open a chance for the national banking industry to improve its competitive edge at a regional level and realize commitment in the ASEAN Economic Community.
In addition, the ratification will also encourage trade and investment, particularly in the financial field in ASEAN, which has been hampered by various local regulations, she remarked.
"Nine ASEAN member states have ratified the sixth protocol. Indonesia is the only ASEAN member state which has not ratified it," she revealed.
For its part, she expressed hope that the House Commission will endorse the bill on AFAS, after the deliberation on the legal basis for the implementation of the sixth protocol did not work as expected.
In fact, ASEAN member states have agreed on the seventh protocol of AFAS, she added.
In response, the House Commission XI has agreed to set up a working committee that will start the deliberation on the sixth protocol from Jan 7 to 8 and will take a first-level decision on Feb 12.
AFAS was signed by ASEAN economic ministers in Bangkok on Dec 15, 1995.
Reported by Satyagraha
(T.S012/A/KR-BSR/B003)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
