Himbara Urged to Become Main Driver of National Economy Through Credit Expansion

The government is positioning the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara) as a key instrument in strengthening national economic growth. With large capital capacity and extensive networks, these state-owned banks are expected to expand financing to the lowest strata of society. President Prabowo Subianto has reportedly given direct instructions for Himbara not only to focus on profit performance but also to play a more active role in promoting financial inclusion and supporting national development programmes. Danantara Indonesia CEO and Minister of Investment and Downstreaming/Head of BKPM, Rosan Roeslani, stated that the consolidated strength of Himbara is an important asset for the economy. The combined capitalisation value, which reaches around Rp1,100 trillion, is seen as demonstrating the significant potential of the state banking sector in driving economic activity. According to him, this scale gives Himbara a strategic position to expand financing, especially to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which are the backbone of the Indonesian economy. “This great potential must be directed to have a broader impact, not only on the growth of the financial sector but also on the equitable distribution of public capital access,” Rosan said. He added that going forward, synergy among state-owned banks is expected to strengthen so that credit distribution can be more targeted and aligned with the government’s development priorities. Meanwhile, a number of observers assess that strengthening coordination through Danantara can help accelerate the implementation of various strategic government programmes. However, they caution about the importance of maintaining a balance between credit expansion and banking risk quality. Aggressive business growth, according to analysts, must still be accompanied by good governance so that financial sector stability is maintained. On the other hand, state-owned banking industry players affirm that the current condition of the national financial sector remains solid. Credit growth and public fund accumulation are recorded as stable, reflecting sustained public confidence. The latest data shows that bank lending is still growing positively, accompanied by liquidity and capital conditions that are strong enough to support future expansion. State-owned banks also reaffirm their commitment to remain focused on financing productive sectors, strengthening digital transformation, and upholding prudential principles in facing global economic dynamics. With these various measures, Himbara is expected to become not only a pillar of state finance but also a main engine in driving more inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Indonesia.