Finance Minister: Placement of SAL in Banking Contributes to 5.61% Economic Growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the government’s placement of funds, or Surplus Budget Balance (SAL), amounting to Rp300 trillion in the banking sector has contributed to driving economic growth performance of 5.61% in the first quarter of 2026.

“Economic growth of 5.61% is partly supported by that (SAL placement), because the money supply in the system increases with support from the central bank as well,” said Purbaya during the APBN KiTa April 2026 press conference at the Ministry of Finance office in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Purbaya explained that the government funds aim to encourage the banking sector’s intermediation function by channelling credit to the real economic system.

He did not direct specific sectors as the main targets and left it to the banks, as actors who better understand credit needs in economic activities.

“So, I am forcing the invisible hand to work in our financial system,” he said.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded that the Indonesian economy grew by 5.61% (year-on-year/yoy) in the first quarter of 2026, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on a constant price basis (ADHK) reaching Rp3,447.7 trillion, and on a current price basis (ADHB) recorded at Rp6,187.2 trillion.

BPS Chief Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, stated that this growth is the highest in the last five years.

Household consumption performance was driven by increased public mobility during the period of national holidays and major religious days such as Nyepi and Eid al-Fitr.

In addition, various inflation control policies and government stimulus have supported consumption, including transport ticket discounts, provision of holiday allowances (THR) or 13th-month salary, as well as the Bank Indonesia reference interest rate or BI rate at 4.75%.