US Treasury's buybacks validate Indonesia's earlier policy: Purbaya

He said the move showed Indonesia’s buyback policy meets international standards and could serve as a model for other countries.

“It shows what we’re doing is an international standard. Maybe the US is copying us because it worked,” Purbaya said after a meeting with parliament’s Budget Committee in Jakarta on Thursday.

Indonesia’s Finance Ministry has implemented government bond buybacks through its Directorate General of Budget Financing and Risk Management.

Purbaya said the buyback programs share the same goal as the US initiative, maintaining liquidity in the financial system.

“The concern is clearly the same. The US will do this to add liquidity to the economic system,” he said.

Governments need to take necessary steps when market liquidity is disrupted to safeguard economic stability, Purbaya said.

“If the government sees liquidity disrupted, it will take every legitimate measure available to ensure the economy isn’t affected. What we’re doing is the same as America,” Purbaya said.

The US Treasury Department doubled its buyback limit for government debt to at least US$4 billion per operation, from a maximum of US$2 billion previously.

The move aims to curb heavy selling, preserve market liquidity and contain surging yields on longer-term US government bonds, particularly 10- to 30-year maturities.

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Translator: Bayu S, Rahmad Nasution