Under Danantara, PT DSI State-Owned Enterprise Remains Profit-Driven in Exports
Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Danantara Indonesia, Pandu Patria Sjahrir, stated that PT Danantara Sumberdaya Indonesia (Persero), or PT DSI, remains tasked with generating profit.
PT DSI is a newly established state-owned enterprise (SOE) specifically created to manage the export of strategic natural resources. During its initial operational phase, it will oversee exports of crude palm oil (CPO), coal, and ferrous alloys.
Pandu explained that as PT DSI operates under Danantara, it is profit-oriented, aligning with the sovereign wealth fund (SWF) model designed to generate returns. The establishment of PT DSI stems from the government’s aim to address under-invoicing, where export values are reported lower than actual prices.
Two considerations were raised regarding the entity managing strategic resource exports: either a government body to oversee or a company acting as an operator. ‘It’s a choice, you cannot have both,’ he said. ‘President’s choice was to place PT DSI under Danantara.’
As a company under Danantara, Pandu emphasised that PT DSI will prioritise profitability. ‘Within Danantara, the mindset is profit-driven. It’s a savings account for future generations, so it must have a profit-oriented mentality,’ he added.
PT DSI is set to commence operations on 1 June 2026. During the initial transitional phase, it will handle export documentation and commodity price verification for overseas buyers. By 1 September 2026, ready exporters can begin routing their activities through PT DSI, with those not yet prepared given a transition period. Full operational control of all CPO, coal, and ferrous alloy exports will take effect from 1 January 2027.
Pandu believes the scheme will improve Indonesia’s global commodity prices while curbing under-invoicing. ‘At the very least, by January we expect to reach the endgame. Our goal is for PT DSI to purchase commodities directly and then sell them to the market. The key advantage is securing better prices through increased bargaining power,’ he concluded.