Folders with the label Regulations and Guidelines

New fintech regulations are seen as a positive step in Indonesia. Pic: Zerbor/Shutterstock

Indonesia releases new fintech regulations that are expected to boost investor confidence

By | 11 January, 2017

The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK) has released new, preliminary regulations for fintech firms that run peer-to-peer lending businesses.

The regulations require fintech companies to have one billion rupiahs – US$74,239 – capital when registering a business with OJK. This must rise rise to 2.5 billion rupiahs when applying for a business license.

The figures are lower than the respective two billion and five billion rupiahs stated in the draft regulation.

SEE ALSO: Japan frees up millions for potential fintech investments after law alteration

Maximum interest rates on loans are not strictly regulated, however. The new rules only state that fintech firms can advise its investors and customers of an interest rate by “taking into account fairness and national economic development”, reports The Jakarta Post.

Speaking about the new regulations at a press briefing, as reported by the Post, OJK chair Muliaman D. Hadad said the regulations were an initial step to regulate the sector.

“What’s important is they get onto our radar because we don’t want to regulate the prudential aspects hastily,” he said. “We want to provide [business] transparency guidelines first.”

Overall, business leaders have expressed optimism for the new rules.

“This regulation obliges fintech businesses to be registered and supervised by the OJK, which in fact will boost [investor] confidence further,” Amartha Mikro Fintek vice president Aria Widyanto told the Post.

Last year the OJK recorded 120 fintech firms operating in Indonesia, many of which are startups.

Transactions are estimated to rise by 18 percent on an annual basis hitting a high of US$14.5 billion by 2020, according to market statistics portal Statista.



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@Heidivel

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Heidi Vella is a freelance energy and technology journalist based in London. Her interests include smart cities, clean energy, emerging markets and technology innovation. Prior to working freelance, Heidi spent four years’ covering all things technology and energy-related for London-based Progressive Digital Media.

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