There have been reports recently on the decline of the importance and strength of the US Dollar, leading many to speculate as to what the future may hold for the global economy.
With this in mind, Kevin Helms reporting for Bitcoin.Com, writes that Indonesia is introducing a new national payment system as it furthers de-dollarization efforts and protection against “possible geopolitical consequences.”
The new national payment system will replace Visa and Mastercard in state-owned institutions and companies, according to Dicky Kartikoyono, Head of Strategic Management and Governance Department for Bank Indonesia (BI) who was quoted by CNBC as saying Monday that “in accordance with the president’s plan, the transition to our national payment system is proceeding smoothly. We expect that very soon it will become widespread, including within state-owned enterprises.”
Helms explains that Kartikoyono clarified Indonesia’s decision to create its own payment system as being “very timely,” emphasizing that Southeast Asian countries should establish “a safety cushion that will protect businesses and ordinary citizens” from increasing financial uncertainty in the West.
In March, Indonesian President Jokowi urged regional authorities to use credit cards developed by local banks instead of global financial conglomerates as a measure to shield transactions against any “possible geopolitical consequences.”
Dodit Proboyakti, a board member of the Indonesian Credit Cards Association, told Sputnik publication that Indonesia will apply what it learns from Russia’s experiences with its Mir payment system to its own payment system. The Russian government-backed Mir payment system gained much popularity after Western nations imposed heavy sanctions on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.
BI Governor Perry Warjiyo recently said that Indonesia is following the BRICS economic bloc’s de-dollarization lead by diversifying its currency usage through the implementation of the local currency system. He noted that Indonesia has also made agreements with several nations to use local currencies in trade, including Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Japan, report Bitcoin.Com.
Besides Indonesia, nine other Southeast Asian countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) recently agreed to “encourage the use of local currencies for economic and financial transactions.” The 10 countries are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Meanwhile, the BRICS leaders plan to discuss a common currency at their upcoming leaders’ summit. The BRICS nations comprise Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Many people believe that a BRICS currency will erode the U.S. dollar’s dominance.
Source: Bitcoin.Com