Beyond Tourism: Bali Set to Become an International Financial Centre
Bali is no longer solely projected to rely on tourism. The Minister for Human Rights, Natalius Pigai, revealed that the government is preparing Bali to serve as an International Financial Centre (IFC) to encourage the development of various businesses and other economic activities.
“Bali and Jakarta are being designated as Financial Centres. An International Financial Centre in both Bali and Jakarta. Jakarta will be trialled, and subsequently, it will be implemented in Bali,” said Pigai while attending the Bali-Timor Leste Business Forum 2026 at the Awan Auditorium 3, Tsinghua Southeast Asia Centre, Kura Kura Bali SEZ, Serangan, Denpasar, on Friday (2/10/2026).
Pigai stated that the development of an international financial centre in Bali will drive business growth across multiple sectors. According to him, the presence of an IFC will make economic activities in Bali increasingly diverse.
“If there is an International Financial Centre in Bali, then other businesses will certainly flourish,” he added.
Pigai’s statement was delivered during the Indonesia-Timor Leste business forum, which discussed trade, investment, innovation, and financial collaboration.
The Bali-Timor Leste Business Forum 2026 is part of the Bali International Business & Investment Forum (BIBIF) 2026. The forum brings together government officials, investors, business players, financial institutions, academics, and business associations from Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
In the forum documents, Bali is noted for its strategic position as an international destination, a hub for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), tourism, the creative economy, as well as a business and investment ecosystem.
The forum also aims to strengthen Bali’s position as a centre for business, investment, MICE, and international economic diplomacy.
Discussions at the forum covered four main areas: tourism, arts and culture, the Gold Economy, the Blue Economy, and the Green Economy.
Sectors discussed included gold trade and investment, financial services, technology, fisheries, maritime connectivity, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green infrastructure, and green financing.
The forum operates under the concept of ‘From Dialogue to Deal’. Follow-up agendas include business matching, investment matching, B2B, B2G, and Investment to Project Matching.
These activities are directed towards generating business cooperation, investment projects, MoUs, and Letters of Intent (LoI).
According to the forum documents, Bali is also being positioned as an international business and conference centre, as well as one of Indonesia’s hubs for economic diplomacy and financial services in the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, cooperation with Timor-Leste is directed towards more than just tourism. The forum targets trade, investment, the creative economy, education, agriculture, maritime affairs, energy, infrastructure, and the digital economy.
With these plans, Bali is being prepared to host a broader range of economic activities beyond the tourism sector, including through the development of the international financial sector.