Jakarta. Standard Chartered held its Indonesia Treasury Leadership Forum (TLF) 2026 on Tuesday, concluding this year’s forum tour across ASEAN. The event has been held in 24 markets globally, bringing international insights to corporate treasury professionals.

Ankur Kanwar, Head of Transaction Banking & Cash Management for Singapore and ASEAN, and Global Head of Cash Structured Solutions Development at Standard Chartered, said he was pleased to return to Jakarta to conclude this year’s series.

“In fact, this year we have run this series across 24 markets globally, bringing the best from around the world to Indonesia. And this is the first year Standard Chartered has run the series across all our ASEAN markets. I think we saved the best for last, because Indonesia is the last market where we are holding this series,” Ankur said.

The Future of Digital Payments and Cybersecurity
The first panel session explored the future of digital payments, digital assets and cybersecurity. Payments across ASEAN and Indonesia have advanced significantly, with the widespread adoption of real-time payments, digital wallets and QR codes.

However, the next challenge for businesses is integrating notifications and payments directly into their workflows, without having to manually send payment files or API messages to banks.

On cybersecurity, the panelists agreed that protecting transactions is a shared responsibility. While banks provide security alerts and security information management systems to safeguard transactions, corporations must also establish strong internal controls on their side.

Supply Chain Restructuring and ASEAN's Economic Resilience
The second panel examined shifting trade routes, supply chain restructuring and how businesses can navigate global uncertainty. Amid these changes, ASEAN is seen as having significant opportunities, given its position between China to the north and India to the west, alongside its dynamic domestic markets.

“Global companies are no longer just thinking conventionally about where to establish a new factory. Instead, they are looking for countries that offer a complete ecosystem, including sound policies, good governance, reliable financial systems and macroeconomic stability,” Ankur said.

He also highlighted the significant transformation in the role of corporate treasury. Treasury is no longer merely a back-office function focused on record-keeping or balance sheet management. Treasury teams now play an important role in management, connecting overall business strategy with the financial ecosystem.

As payment systems and business operations increasingly run around the clock, managing liquidity and cash flow, while mitigating risks amid global uncertainty, has become essential.

Closing the forum, Ankur emphasized the importance of mental and operational preparedness in facing future challenges.

“We cannot control every disruption that will come our way, but what we can do is ensure that we are well prepared for it, navigate through those disruptions and turn them into opportunities,” he said.

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