By: Syafira Yusmin )*
President Prabowo Subianto has shown a strong commitment to accelerating the national economic transformation by launching various strategic policies. One of the main steps is the establishment of the Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) Investment Management Agency (BPI), a national investment fund that will manage state-owned enterprise assets more optimally and professionally. By consolidating various state-owned enterprises under one entity, Danantara is expected to be able to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of the Indonesian economy.
Within the framework of this economic transformation, the government has also inaugurated Bank Emas as a strategic step to optimize the use of national gold reserves. The existence of this bank is expected to reduce the flow of gold abroad and ensure that domestic gold assets are managed properly for the national interest.
An economist from Pasundan University, Acuviarta Kartabi, assessed that Danantara could be a catalyst in realizing the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045. The consolidation of state-owned enterprise assets carried out through Danantara is seen as a concrete step to optimize the role of state-owned enterprises in creating greater added value for the economy. In addition, a more professional management approach is expected to increase transparency and efficiency in national investment.
The role of BUMN in supporting Danantara also receives serious attention. Pertamina, as one of the largest contributors in the management of Danantara assets, has a significant role in supporting the national energy transformation. The existence of this company is not only limited to the oil and gas sector, but is also involved in the development of renewable energy such as biodiesel and bioethanol.
BUMN observer, Herry Gunawan, assessed that Danantara has the potential to overcome the classic problem in the Indonesian economy, namely the gap between domestic savings and investment needs (savings-investment gap). With the consolidation of BUMN’s economic strength, Danantara is expected to be able to increase national investment capacity, both through independent investment and cooperation with international partners.
Herry also emphasized that more optimal management of BUMN assets through Danantara will encourage industrialization based on added value. Indonesia’s natural resources are no longer only exported in raw form, but will be processed domestically to increase their economic benefits for the community.
In addition, Danantara is also seen as an instrument that can reduce Indonesia’s dependence on foreign investment in the form of debt. If managed properly, Danantara has the potential to reduce the government’s dependence on external funds and strengthen national economic independence.
Meanwhile, Bank Emas is also an important part of the government’s economic transformation strategy. This bank is designed to provide domestic gold savings, financing, and trading services. Its existence is expected to increase public access to safer and more structured gold investment.
Director of Sales & Distribution of Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI), Anton Sukarna, assessed that Bank Emas will be the main driver in the national sharia economy. With this bank, people can store their gold more safely, obtain returns in the form of grams, and optimize the potential of gold as an investment instrument.
The potential for the gold market in Indonesia itself is still very large. Based on a McKinsey study, the gold circulating in the community reaches 1,800 tons, while the amount of gold bars that can be monetized is estimated to reach 321 tons. In addition, Indonesia has gold reserves of around 2,600 tons and is included in the top ten global gold producers.
Senior economist at the Indonesian Banking Development Institute (LPPI), Ryan Kiryanto, assessed that the existence of Bank Emas will provide broad benefits for the community and the financial industry. With this institution, gold owners can store their assets more safely while earning returns. In addition, the gold bank will also encourage investment diversification in the national financial sector.
Another advantage of the Gold Bank is the increased potential for downstreaming of precious metals domestically. This downstreaming is expected to increase the added value of gold ore up to ten times compared to simply exporting it in raw form. With this facility, Indonesia has the potential to become a gold trading center in the Southeast Asia region.
Optimism towards the Gold Bank is further strengthened by the involvement of BSI as one of the managers of this business. The largest Islamic bank in Indonesia has recorded a significant growth spike in the gold business, with total gold managed reaching 17.5 tons in 2024. In the next few years, BSI plans to expand their services by presenting features such as gold storage, digital gold trading , as well as gold ATM machines that allow people to print their gold directly.
With an increasingly focused economic transformation strategy, the launch of Danantara and Bank Emas marks a major step in strengthening the foundation of the national economy. The consolidation of BUMN assets through Danantara will create a more efficient investment ecosystem, while Bank Emas will ensure that national gold resources can be optimally utilized for the benefit of the domestic economy.
The existence of these two institutions will not only increase Indonesia’s economic competitiveness on the global stage, but also strengthen national economic resilience. With professional management and appropriate policies, Danantara and Bank Emas are believed to be the main pillars in Indonesia’s journey towards becoming a developed country.
)* Observer of People’s Economy
