Indonesia’s financial inclusion index low despite huge mobile users

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s financial inclusion index is among the lowest in ASEAN countries, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Suryo Pratamo said in his remarks at the webinar entitled Digital and Fintech Opportunities for Indonesia and Singapore organized by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF) on Wednesday (30/6).

In 2019, Indonesia’s financial inclusion index was recorded at 76 percent, below Singapore’s 98 percent, Malaysia’s 85 percent, and Thailand’s 82 percent.

“About 80 percent of Indonesia’s digital industry, including the fintech (financial technology) sector, is more developed in Java and Sumatra. Whereas, the potential for the digital economy, including the fintech (financial technology) industry in Indonesia, is still very large, including that in eastern Indonesia,” said the Indonesian Ambassador.

According to him, the infrastructure development to support the fintech industry in Indonesia is not easy, because large amounts of investment are needed to build infrastructure in this vast archipelagic country.

Another challenge in increasing the financial inclusion index is Indonesia’s low level of digital financial literacy, only 35.5 percent. In fact, Indonesia has the second largest number of cellular phone users in the world.

However, of the 191.6 million mobile users in 2020, only a few use this technology for productive purposes.

In fact, only 31.26 percent of people have used digital services, and 8 percent are familiar with e-money (electronic money).

Throughout 2020, transactions made online are estimated to reach 201 trillion rupiahs.

Meanwhile, the distribution of funds through fintech companies touched 155.9 trillion rupiahs, an increase of more than 90 percent compared to the previous year.

Reporting by Indonesia Window