By: Andika Pratama
President Prabowo Subianto’s administration continues to take concrete steps in driving national economic growth. Two key initiatives—Gold Bank and the Investment Management Agency Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara)—serve as strategic moves to strengthen economic stability while accelerating downstream processing and investment. These policies reflect a strong commitment to fostering economic independence and improving public welfare.
Gold Bank is a strategic initiative to optimize Indonesia’s vast gold potential. With gold reserves reaching 2,600 tons and an annual production of around 100 tons, Indonesia ranks sixth in the world in terms of gold reserves. However, the utilization of gold as an economic instrument remains suboptimal. The establishment of Gold Bank, managed by PT Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), aims to transform the domestic economic landscape by facilitating Sharia-based gold investment and enhancing the monetization of underutilized gold assets.
BSI’s Director of Sales & Distribution, Anton Sukarna, stated that Gold Bank would act as a new economic driver in Indonesia by capturing economic value across the entire gold supply chain, from upstream to downstream sectors. This initiative aligns with the government’s vision of developing a more inclusive and globally competitive Sharia economy. With a projected national economic growth of 8% by 2029, Gold Bank is expected to serve as a catalyst for enhancing gold-based financial inclusion.
In addition to Gold Bank, the establishment of Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) marks a breakthrough in accelerating strategic investments, particularly in National Strategic Projects (PSN). This investment management agency is set up to oversee an investment fund of USD 20 billion (approximately IDR 300 trillion), sourced from the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) and seven major state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including Bank Mandiri, BRI, BNI, PLN, Pertamina, Telkom Indonesia, and MIND ID. With these funds, Danantara plays a crucial role in supporting regional infrastructure development and strengthening industrial downstream processing.
Mori Hanafi, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Commission V, emphasized the importance of Danantara’s contribution to regional infrastructure development. Many areas outside Java still face basic infrastructure limitations, such as roads and bridges. With Danantara’s intervention, infrastructure development can be accelerated, supporting regional economic growth and reducing fiscal dependency on the central government. It is hoped that a portion of the investment funds will be allocated to regions highly dependent on the national budget (APBN).
One of Danantara’s primary focuses is supporting the downstream processing of natural resources, particularly in the nickel, bauxite, and copper sectors. Downstream processing is the government’s strategy to enhance the added value of Indonesia’s mineral products, creating broader economic impacts. This initiative is expected to generate new jobs, accelerate industrialization, and increase state revenues from higher-value processed exports.
Wijayanto Samirin, an economist from Paramadina University, believes that Danantara’s effectiveness depends heavily on selecting the right individuals to manage investments. He stressed that the selection of a global advisory board should be done meticulously to enhance investment appeal and attract foreign capital to Indonesia. He emphasized that Danantara’s management must be transparent and led by individuals with clean track records and strong investment management capabilities.
In the near future, Danantara CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani is expected to announce the complete management and supervisory board structure of the investment agency. He stated that selecting credible figures would be a key factor in gaining global investor confidence. This aligns with President Prabowo’s efforts to ensure that every economic policy truly maximizes national growth benefits.
The combination of Gold Bank and Danantara is a highly strategic approach to accelerating Indonesia’s economic growth. Gold Bank provides a more inclusive and sustainable Sharia investment alternative, while Danantara serves as an investment instrument to strengthen infrastructure and industrial downstream processing. With the right policies, these two initiatives will not only drive national economic growth but also enhance Indonesia’s global competitiveness.
President Prabowo understands that achieving sustainable economic growth requires an integrated strategy combining financial sector strengthening and investment acceleration. By optimizing gold as an economic asset and leveraging strategic investments through Danantara, Indonesia can move toward a new era of economic independence and high competitiveness.
The challenges ahead lie in the effective implementation of these policies and ensuring that the benefits of these initiatives reach all levels of society. Strict oversight of Gold Bank and Danantara is crucial to ensuring transparency and accountability in managing state assets. The government must also ensure that access to gold-based investments is available to the entire population, preventing economic benefits from being concentrated in specific groups.
President Prabowo’s decision to establish Gold Bank and Danantara demonstrates a clear vision for building a strong and sustainable economy. Through these initiatives, Indonesia is poised to become a leading center for Sharia investment while achieving greater economic self-sufficiency. If executed effectively, this strategy could propel Indonesia toward higher and more stable economic growth in the coming years.
The author is a contributor to Jabartrigger.com
