Jakarta. Bank Indonesia governor nominee Destry Damayanti on Wednesday laid out a five-point agenda centered on strengthening the central bank’s policy mix, tightening foreign exchange oversight and expanding inclusive finance, as she seeks to steer the institution through mounting economic challenges.

Presenting her vision during a fit and proper test before the House of Representatives’ Commission XI, Destry said she wanted to keep Bank Indonesia relevant in responding to economic challenges while preserving its credibility in maintaining stability and supporting sustainable growth.

“If entrusted with the position of Bank Indonesia governor, we will pursue this vision through three missions and five strategic initiatives,” Destry told lawmakers in Jakarta.

Her three missions are to safeguard stability as the foundation for sustainable growth, contribute to long-term economic expansion, and strengthen coordination with stakeholders under what she calls the Red and White Synergy (Sinergi Merah Putih).

The five strategic initiatives include strengthening Bank Indonesia’s policy mix, revitalizing foreign exchange traffic policies, expanding inclusive and sustainable finance, reinforcing institutional governance and innovation, and deepening coordination with other stakeholders.

Destry said the central bank’s policy mix would need to be strengthened to respond to pressures on the external sector, the rupiah and inflation while maintaining conditions conducive to economic growth.

She also singled out foreign exchange traffic policies as an area requiring renewed attention, particularly through greater use of digital supervision and supervisory technology.

“This is particularly important given the significant potential for under-invoicing. But Bank Indonesia cannot work alone because foreign exchange traffic data involves many different parties,” she said.

Destry also pledged to strengthen inclusive and sustainable finance, arguing that higher-quality economic growth must benefit all segments of society. She said financial inclusion and Islamic finance could become key drivers in Indonesia’s push toward its 8 percent economic growth target.

The central bank would further support inclusive financing through macroprudential policies and refine its sustainable finance framework, including instruments and methodologies for calculating emissions and carbon that could eventually be used by companies and banks, she added.

On institutional governance, Destry said Bank Indonesia’s expanding mandate must be matched by a stronger institution.

“Bank Indonesia’s credibility cannot be built overnight. It is the accumulated result of integrity, consistency, innovation and long-term synergy,” she said.

The final pillar, Sinergi Merah Putih, would serve as the thread linking Bank Indonesia’s policies with broader national development priorities, including food security, downstream industries and industrialization, human capital development, regional growth, economic digitalization and institutional reform.

Destry said she would apply the principles of being “impactful, inclusive and integrated,” with synergy serving as the key to achieving all three.

“For us, synergy is not merely about working together. It is about combining strengths, complementing one another and moving in step to achieve better results than we could by working alone,” she said.

Commission XI is also scheduled to hold a fit and proper test for senior deputy governor candidate Aida S. Budiman. The House will then assess deputy governor candidates Solikin M. Juhro and M. Anwar Bashori on Thursday.

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