Akmalal Hamdhi, Jakarta – Bank Indonesia (BI) plans to expand the cross-border use of the Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) after officially launching its implementation in Japan in August.
BI Governor Perry Warjiyo said the central bank is in talks to extend similar cooperation with China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and India, as part of efforts to strengthen regional payment connectivity and accelerate the country's digital economic transformation.
"We continue to expand QRIS usage through international cooperation. After Japan, we are now initiating partnerships with China and South Korea, as well as Saudi Arabia and India," Perry told lawmakers during a hearing with the House of Representatives' Commission XI on Wednesday.
Before Japan and the ongoing trial with China, Indonesia had already connected its QR payment system with Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, allowing Indonesian travelers to make cashless transactions abroad by simply scanning a QRIS code on their mobile devices.
A trial to connect QRIS with China's QR payment network is currently underway and is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. Indonesia has also begun pilot tests with South Korea, aiming for full implementation by 2026. These moves are part of Jakarta's broader push to promote local currency use in regional transactions and reduce dependency on the US dollar.
Once fully expanded, QRIS interoperability will cover seven major markets – Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea, and India – marking Indonesia's growing role in advancing digital financial integration across Asia.
Perry said the initiative aligns with the Astacita program, which aims to deepen digitalization in Indonesia's payment systems, including at the local government level.
He reported that QRIS performance has exceeded expectations. As of September 2025, the number of QRIS users reached 58.02 million, surpassing the annual target of 50 million. Merchant adoption also rose to 41.3 million, above the 40 million target, while transaction volume hit 10.31 billion, nearly double the 5.5 billion target.
"All instruments are being mobilized to boost economic growth while maintaining stability, through monetary, macroprudential, and payment system policies, alongside close coordination with the government," Perry said.
Source: https://jakartaglobe.id/business/bi-expands-qris-links-to-seven-countries-to-reduce-dollar-relianc