Bank Indonesia drives QRIS adoption and UMKM financing in Sulawesi

The Karya Kreatif Sulawesi (KKS) × South Sulawesi Digital Festival (DIGIFEST) in Makassar concluded on 2 August 2026 with a commitment of IDR 18.27 billion in financing for micro‑, small‑ and medium‑enterprises (UMKM) and more than IDR 1.35 billion in sales transactions. The event showcased over 100 UMKM participants, attracted more than 8,000 visitors, and recorded over 10,000 QRIS‑based cash‑less transactions, highlighting the rapid digitalisation of payments in the region. Bank Indonesia’s South Sulawesi representative Bayu Martanto and staff expert Dr. Since Erna Lamba led the closing ceremony, while Bank Mandiri and Bank Sulselbar supplied the financing.

In Central Sulawesi, Bank Indonesia clarified that QRIS does not impose extra fees on consumers. Junior analyst Bintang Samudera explained that merchants pay a modest discount rate of about 0.7 % (zero percent for religious institutions and social aid), far cheaper than international card fees. The agency emphasised QRIS’s role in improving cost efficiency, financial transparency, and access to credit for UMKM, while also noting infrastructure gaps in three districts that need telecom collaboration.