OJK and LPS Unanimously Back Destry Damayanti for BI Governor, Here's Why

The nomination of Destry Damayanti to become the definitive Governor of Bank Indonesia has received a positive reception. Support has come from the heads of agencies within the Financial System Stability Committee, namely the Financial Services Authority and the Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Chairperson of the OJK Board of Commissioners, Friderica Widyasari Dewi, stated that synergy between institutions, ministries, and regulators is a strategic step in efforts to develop and strengthen the financial services sector. This is particularly important for the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector, which is the backbone of the national economy.

This synergy is primarily fostered among the leaders of these institutions or regulators, including with the central bank, which is currently under public scrutiny as the definitive position of BI Governor remains vacant following Perry Warjiyo’s resignation at the end of July 2026. Friderica, often called Kiki, said her party supports Destry Damayanti to become the BI Governor.

“We are very supportive, Mrs. Destry is a figure we already know, her track record is also very good, and the cooperation established with OJK so far has been excellent. We pray the process goes smoothly,” Kiki said during a press conference for the UMKM Finance Summit held by OJK with the Ministry of MSMEs in South Jakarta on Tuesday.

On the same occasion, Minister of MSMEs Maman Abdurrahman expressed the view that Destry Damayanti is the right person to lead BI, primarily because she pays attention to the MSME sector.

“Regarding Mrs. Destry, I think this is a positive breakthrough step because, from my understanding over almost two years as Minister of MSMEs, she is one of the figures at BI who is very concerned about MSMEs. And hopefully, the process with Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives will be smooth,” Maman said.

Chairman of the LPS Board of Commissioners, Anggito Abimanyu, assessed that Destry Damayanti is a figure who possesses a ‘complete package’ as the sole candidate for BI Governor.

“So she is someone with a complete background. A complete package. So I am quite confident that cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, with LPS, and OJK will have no problems,” Anggito said when met in Jakarta on Monday.

Destry previously worked at the Fiscal and Monetary Analysis Agency of the Ministry of Finance from 1992 to 1997. She then served as a Member of the LPS Board of Commissioners for the 2015-2019 period. Subsequently, Destry served as Senior Deputy Governor of BI until she was appointed as Acting Governor of BI.

Anggito hopes the process of appointing the definitive BI Governor can proceed smoothly according to the applicable mechanism. The process must still go through a fit and proper test at Commission XI of the Indonesian House of Representatives. Therefore, Anggito is reluctant to pre-empt the appointment process. “So hopefully it goes smoothly and the definitive Governor of Bank Indonesia is soon appointed,” he said.