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Foreign Banks Withdraw $640M from Indonesia as Prabowo Policies Shift

Bloomberg Markets •
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Prabowo Subianto's government is prompting a significant pullback from Indonesia's financial sector. The three largest foreign banks operating in Southeast Asia's biggest economy have moved approximately $640 million of earnings offshore since the start of 2024, according to Bloomberg Markets data.

These capital outflows reflect growing caution among international lenders toward Indonesia's changing economic direction. Foreign banks are systematically reducing their exposure as the administration adopts more interventionist policies that could affect profitability and operational freedom.

The withdrawals signal concern that increased state involvement in the economy may limit the favorable conditions foreign institutions typically expect. When banks begin moving profits abroad rather than reinvesting locally, it often indicates longer-term strategic shifts in market positioning.

Indonesia risks losing crucial foreign banking expertise and capital if this trend continues. The outflows particularly matter given that foreign banks typically provide international connectivity that domestic institutions cannot match, potentially isolating Indonesian markets from global financial flows.