No. 28/191/DKom
Indonesia, through its Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard (QRIS) Cross-Border innovation, received the “50-in-5 Awards 2026" in the Collaboration category, organised by the Digital Public Goods Alliance (DPGA) and Co-Develop. The award represents global recognition of Indonesia's success, together with partner countries, in building interoperable and inclusive cross-border digital payment connectivity that delivers tangible benefits for the public and businesses. The award was presented by Chief Investment Officer of Co-Develop, Lindsey Crumbaugh, to the Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, Filianingsih Hendarta, representing Indonesia at the 50-in-5 Milestone Event held in conjunction with the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York, United States, on 21st September 2026.
This milestone is the result of collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Government, Indonesia's payment system industry, as well as payment system authorities and industries in partner countries. “QRIS Cross-Border demonstrates that interoperability does not require every country to have the same system. What is needed is a common purpose, trust, agreed standards and a commitment to connect the existing systems in each country. By connecting systems, we connect communities and open opportunities beyond national borders," Deputy Governor Filianingsih stated.
50-in-5 is a global advocacy campaign aimed at supporting 50 countries in designing, launching and scaling safe, inclusive and interoperable digital public infrastructure components before 2028. As part of the campaign, the 50-in-5 Awards recognise initiatives that make a tangible contribution to advancing collaboration and the digitalisation of public infrastructure. In the Collaboration category, awards are presented to cross-country partnerships that have successfully implemented or expanded public infrastructure through digital technology, with assessment criteria including the technology used, interoperability, security and inclusion, as well as tangible implementation achievements.
The achievement reflects Bank Indonesia's contribution to strengthening digital transformation and economic connectivity in Indonesia, while also demonstrating global recognition of payment system innovation in Indonesia. QRIS Cross-Border connects Indonesia's domestic payment ecosystem with those of partner countries in an interoperable manner. Through connectivity, Indonesians can use familiar payment applications to conduct transactions in partner countries. Conversely, international tourists can use payment applications from their home countries to transact with QRIS merchants in Indonesia.
Bank Indonesia has developed QRIS Cross-Border in collaboration with payment system authorities and industries in various countries by leveraging each country's domestic payment infrastructure. This approach enables different payment systems to connect without requiring every country to use the same system. Connectivity is built on common objectives, trust, agreed standards and clear governance, while respecting each country's domestic framework. At the national level, implementation is strengthened through synergy between Bank Indonesia, the Government, the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI) and Indonesia's payment system industry.
QRIS Cross-Border connectivity continues to expand through cooperation with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China. From its initial implementation in 2022 through to July 2026, QRIS Cross-Border transactions by users from partner countries in Indonesia totalled 21 million transactions, with a value of Rp5.90 trillion. Meanwhile, transactions by Indonesian users in partner countries totalled 4.67 million transactions, valued at Rp1.73 trillion. Consequently, the value of transactions into Indonesia was Rp4.17 trillion higher than the value of transactions by Indonesian users in partner countries. These developments demonstrate the increasingly widespread use of QRIS to support cross-border economic activity, including tourism and trade, while also supporting foreign exchange receipts from international tourists.
The benefits of connectivity continue to broaden in line with the development of the domestic QRIS ecosystem. As of July 2026, QRIS had reached 45.46 million merchants, of which 96.69% were micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Through QRIS Cross-Border, Indonesian businesses, particularly MSMEs, have greater opportunities to serve transactions by international tourists using the digital payment infrastructure already used in their daily activities, without requiring a new payment system.
Moving forward, Bank Indonesia will continue expanding QRIS Cross-Border with potential partner countries, particularly those with strong economic, trade, tourism and people mobility. Experience and frameworks established through existing collaboration will provide a foundation for expanding connectivity, while adapting implementation to the characteristics of each partner country. These measures form part of Bank Indonesia's firm commitment to realising a payment system that is fast, simple, affordable, secure and reliable, while strengthening economic and financial inclusion as well as Indonesia's economic connectivity at the regional and global levels.
Jakarta, 22nd September 2026
Communication Department
Ramdan Denny Prakoso
Executive Director
