VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian warship KRI Bontang in Teluk Bayur Port, Padang, West Sumatra, supports Bank Indonesia's "Sovereign Rupiah" mission to provide new Rupiah banknotes to remote islands (Nov 21, 2021). ANTARA/Ikhwan Wahyudi - 

Indonesia's central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), is committed to continuing the mission to distribute mint-condition Rupiah banknotes across the country despite geographic and money circulation challenges.

"Bank Indonesia has been mandated by the nation to distribute the money to all of the Indonesian territories, and ensure sufficient and quality Rupiah banknotes circulating in public," BI's Banknotes Management Department Head Marlison Hakim said here on Sunday.

Rupiah, besides serving as the recognised medium of exchange, is also the symbol of national sovereignty, according to him.

"This has encouraged us to collaborate with relevant parties to distribute the banknotes and ensure that Rupiah would be available in all parts of the nation," he said.

Hakim informed that besides addressing banknotes availability issues, the central bank currently strives to correct disdained public behaviour potential to damage the banknotes.

"We currently engaged in a campaign to encourage residents to be proud and love our Rupiah currency," he said.

Bank Indonesia is also vigilant to prevent illegal utilisation of foreign currency as the medium of exchange, as Indonesia recognised Rupiah as the only legal tender in the country, he added.

Despite the existing challenges, Hakim reiterated the central bank's commitment to optimising its service coverage to ensure banknotes availability nationwide.

"Bank Indonesia will optimise its 45 regional offices, and we have also collaborated with the Indonesian Navy to distribute mint-condition banknotes to remote and border regions in Indonesia," he informed.

Meanwhile, Bank Indonesia's West Sumatra Office Head Wahyu Purnama confirmed that mint condition banknotes worth Rp4.35 billion (around US$304.5 thousand) are ready for distribution to six remote islands in Sumatra by the Indonesian warship KRI Bontang under the central bank's "Sovereign Rupiah" mission on November 21-29, 2021.

"The expedition will stop at Enggano Island in Bengkulu, and Polaga Island, Sikakap Island, Sioban Island, Mailepet Island, and Sikabaluan Island in Mentawai Islands region," Purnama informed//ANT