A cross-border QRIS payment linkage with Malaysia has now been established after a similar integration with Thailand last year, Deputy Head of the office Thomy Andryas noted on Monday.
"We are now focused on cooperating with ASEAN member countries, but we should not rule out potentials to cooperate with Papua New Guinea," he added.
He said that BI is encouraging local authorities in Papua to bolster tourism potentials that can attract visits from foreign nationals, including from Papua New Guinea.
"Papua's tourism potentials can be exploited to attract foreign tourists, such as in Biak Numfor District, then Jayapura District with its renowned Lake Sentani, as well as other districts," the deputy head added.
Local authorities must also exploit their potential to attract delegates and participants of the 42nd ASEAN Summit to Papua, though the international event is being held in East Nusa Tenggara, Andryas said.
"In Papua, QRIS use has been increasing on the merchant side, hence, it could be another potential (to bolster) the visit of foreign tourists from Papua New Guinea or ASEAN (Summit) delegates," he added.
Earlier, during the 2023 Indonesian Digital Financial Economy Festival (FEKDI) on Monday, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, and Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo launched the cross-border QR code payment linkage between Indonesia and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the QRIS payment system with Thailand has been fully functional since August 2022 following its successful trial.
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Translator: Qadri Pratiwi, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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