Jakarta (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (BI) and the People’s Bank of China have launched a series of trials for cross-border QR code payments, linking QR Code Indonesia Standard (QRIS) with China’s payment system for seamless interoperability.
"The continuous development and innovation of QRIS features aim to expand its acceptance and support digital economic and financial inclusiveness. One of the innovations is the cross-border QRIS," Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo stated here on Sunday.
He explained that payment interconnection between Indonesia and China will facilitate cross-border trade and financial transactions, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and encourage tourism between the two countries.
The central bank governor expressed hope that the trial will be successful and eventually lead to the official roll-out of the cross-border QRIS to Chinese markets.
According to Warjiyo, the trial in China will involve the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), China's UnionPay International (UPI), and payment system operators from Indonesia and China.
Warjiyo also stated that the initiative reflected the shared commitment between Bank Indonesia and the national payment system industry to expand Indonesian digital payment to the global stage.
Earlier, BI Deputy Governor Filianingsih Hendarta reported that cooperation for the planned expansion of QRIS coverage to China is progressing positively. Indonesia's ASPI and China's UnionPay International have agreed to finalize business, technical, and operational arrangements.
Four Indonesian switching service providers—PT Rintis Sejahtera (Rintis), PT Alto Network (Alto), PT Artajasa Pembayaran Elektronis (Artajasa), and PT Jalin Pembayaran Nusantara (Jalin)—have also signed an agreement with UnionPay International to proceed with system development and sandbox testing.
Since its launch in 2019, QRIS has achieved cross-border expansion and is currently available in Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore.
In addition to trials in China, Bank Indonesia also officially launched the use of cross-border QRIS in Japan on Sunday, coinciding with the celebration of Indonesia's 80th Independence Day.
