"Based on BI statistics, the foreign exchange income from exports that does not enter Indonesia from year to year reaches US$30 billion," the president director of state-owned Bank Mandiri, Zulkifli Zaini, said.Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia`s policy requiring exporters to collect their foreign exchange income through domestic banks may draw up to US$30 billion, according to a banker.
"Based on BI statistics, the foreign exchange income from exports that does not enter Indonesia from year to year reaches US$30 billion," the president director of state-owned Bank Mandiri, Zulkifli Zaini, said here on Monday.
After awarding Bank Mandiri scholarships to 20 students of the Bandung Institute of Technology, Zulkifli stated that the foreign exchange funds would increase the country`s capacity to offer credits in US dollars.
"That, according to me, would be very good because some of the third-party funds from exports would be kept in banks in Indonesia. Exporters who have so far kept their money abroad have to bring it back home first before they are allowed to do whatever they need to do with it," he explained.
Zulkifli said Indonesian banks would provide facilities for exporters to store their income from exports within the country.
"We have special products that will help exporters do that," he added.
When asked whether BI developed the policy because of its inability to curb rupiah fluctuations, Zulkifli said: "Not at all. The regulation was made months ago. They are separate issues. Perhaps some have been uncomfortable with it because they have put their money abroad."(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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