Banking Sector Accelerates Sustainable Economic Transition
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The transition to a low-carbon economy is becoming increasingly urgent due to the impacts of climate change and market demand for sustainable products. The banking industry plays a role in mobilising sustainable financing to enhance business and industrial sector competitiveness and accelerate the shift towards a low-carbon economy.
This was a key takeaway from various discussions held at the Maybank Indonesia Sustainable Finance Forum 2026 in Jakarta on Tuesday (30/6/2026). The event was attended by stakeholders including regulators, financial service players, and industry players.
Maybank Indonesia President Director Steffano Ridwan said the risk impacts of climate change are increasingly evident. Companies are also becoming more aware of the importance of long-term investment to support a sustainable economy.
“From our perspective at Maybank, we have seen people, corporations, starting to take initiatives more quickly. Our task is to encourage corporations to make this transition faster,” he said during a panel discussion.
In support of the transition to a more sustainable economy, Maybank Indonesia introduced the Sustainable Shariah Restricted Investment Account (SRIA). This investment instrument integrates sharia values with green projects.
According to him, the transition to a low-carbon economy has become a strategic necessity for the business world. Moreover, from a global trade perspective, countries such as those in Europe demand good environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects in every imported product.
“At the bank, the way we view customers is always based on the base price. For companies that have adopted ESG principles, their risk tends to be viewed as lower and more resilient,” he said.
On the other hand, investment for ESG needs also considers more efficient business processes. For example, switching to lower-emission energy will reduce costs and increase a company’s competitiveness in the long term.
Maybank Group Chief Sustainability Officer Datuk Shahril Azuar Jimin stated that the transition to a sustainable economy is no longer a future agenda but has become a strategic necessity for the business world.
“Although the journey of transitioning to a low-carbon economy will not be easy, the increasing awareness of stakeholders on this issue also presents significant opportunities for economic growth, increased industrial competitiveness, and long-term value creation,” he said.
Maybank has set a sustainable financing target of 300 billion Malaysian ringgit, equivalent to Rp 1,314 trillion, by 2030. Meanwhile, Maybank Indonesia recorded sustainable financing of Rp 8.2 trillion throughout 2025.
Also delivering remarks were Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) Friderica Widyasari Dewi, Acting Director General of Financial Sector Stability and Development at the Ministry of Finance Herman Saheruddin, and Deputy Minister of Industry Faisol Riza.
Friderica reminded that the global economy is facing various challenges, ranging from geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, to climate change risks and market volatility. Climate change is one of the biggest risks affecting financial system stability, investment decisions, and long-term economic growth.
In this situation, resilience cannot be built solely through short-term responses but requires structural transformation. The financial services sector has a role in mobilising financing and accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy.
“The transition to a low-carbon economy is not only an environmental necessity but also a huge economic opportunity. Those who innovate and invest early will be in a better position to create long-term value and resilience,” she said in her remarks.
She added that Indonesia is also committed to the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the target of achieving net zero emissions by 2060 or sooner.
To realise these commitments, significant investment and collaboration among all stakeholders are needed. Therefore, OJK continues to strengthen the sustainable finance ecosystem to support Indonesia’s sustainable development agenda through four pillars.
OJK supports the development of Indonesia’s carbon market ecosystem to mobilise green investment and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
First, developing the Indonesian Sustainable Finance Taxonomy (TKBI) as a common framework for classifying sustainable and transition economic activities, aligned with national priorities and international standards.
Second, strengthening climate risk management through the refinement of methodologies, data, and analytical tools to enhance the resilience of the financial services sector. Third, gradually improving the quality of sustainability information disclosure to align with international standards.