Danantara CEO: Lending to MSMEs Must Be Maintained Despite BI Rate Hike

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Danantara, Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, has stated that lending disbursed by banks, especially state-owned banks (Himbara), to the public must be maintained even though Bank Indonesia raised its benchmark interest rate, the BI Rate, by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.75 percent.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday evening following a meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and several Himbara executives, Rosan explained that Himbara banks must continue to increase their productivity and efficiency while keeping non-performing loan (NPL) levels low.

“Even though there is an interest rate increase, lending to the public, to the business world, especially MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises), can still be maintained at a good level, at the same level,” Rosan told reporters during a press conference.

Rosan added that over the past year, from 2025 to 2026, bank lending to the public, including MSMEs, has risen by an average of 15 percent.

In a separate session at the same location, Danantara Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Pandu Sjahrir stated that Danantara supports the policy made by Bank Indonesia regarding the BI Rate increase.

“From Danantara’s side, we follow what the policymakers have done, both from the fiscal and monetary sides. Of course, Danantara supports it; they (BI) have already calculated it. For us at Danantara, as market participants, we will do our best,” Pandu said in response to reporters’ questions.

BI Governor Perry Warjiyo stated during a press conference following the board of governors’ meeting in Jakarta on Thursday that the rate increase is a follow-up measure to further strengthen the stabilisation of the rupiah exchange rate amid persistently high global uncertainty, as well as a pre-emptive step to keep inflation in 2026 and 2027 within the government’s target range of 2.5±1 percent.