Pegadaian Timor Leste Records Brilliant Performance
PT Pegadaian has marked a new milestone in its business journey by officially expanding into the international market. Commemorating its 125th anniversary, the leading Indonesian financial institution inaugurated its first overseas branch, the Pegadaian Timor Leste Branch, located in Dili, Timor-Leste, on 30 March 2026.
This strategic expansion is part of a major commitment by Pegadaian, alongside the Ultra Micro (UMi) Holding of the BRI Group, to broaden the reach of inclusive finance across borders. The presence of Pegadaian in Timor-Leste aims to build an integrated financial ecosystem, complementing the services of PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, which has been operating there since 2017, while serving as a strategic partner in driving local grassroots economic growth.
Only two months after commencing official operations, Pegadaian’s international business in Timor-Leste has shown a positive growth trend. The availability of fast, secure, and easily accessible financing solutions has received an extraordinary response from the community, particularly from MSME entrepreneurs in Dili. This high market acceptance is reflected in the performance during the first two months of operation up to May 2026, where pawn credit services processed over 600 transactions with a total financing turnover exceeding US$ 329,882.
This impressive development proves that the pawn business model utilised by Pegadaian is highly relevant to the financial needs of the Timorese people, who require short-term liquidity without complicated procedures.
As a tangible manifestation of its corporate social responsibility, PT Pegadaian also launched the ‘Gadai Peduli’ (Caring Pawn) programme in Timor-Leste on 1 April 2026, coinciding with its 125th anniversary. This innovative programme is specifically designed to alleviate the economic burden on the community for urgent needs, such as education and healthcare costs. Through a collateral scheme that supports the public, the programme offers interest-free loans (zero per cent) for a full two-month period for loan ceilings up to US$ 100. Public enthusiasm has been high, with total disbursements under the Gadai Peduli programme reaching US$ 6,406 by the end of May 2026.
Through these steps, Pegadaian is not merely pursuing business profitability but is actively contributing to building an inclusive financial ecosystem and empowering the economy of Timor-Leste. The President Director of PT Pegadaian, Damar Latri Setiawan, stated that the operational success in Dili is the initial step in the company’s long-term vision to become a major player in the pawn and gold industry at a regional level.
“Pegadaian’s presence in Timor-Leste carries a grand mission to provide heartfelt service to improve financial literacy and inclusion. We are not only providing conventional pawn products but are also continuously innovating to present product diversification tailored to the characteristics of local community needs,” said Damar.
Moving forward, PT Pegadaian is committed to maintaining the operational stability of the Timor-Leste branch and ensuring a positive contribution alongside the BRI Group. The success in Timor-Leste is also projected as a strategic blueprint for Pegadaian to explore expansion opportunities in other potential countries within the ASEAN region in the future.