Purbaya: SAL Placement in Banking Plays a Role in the Economy 5.61 Percent

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa stated that the placement of government funds or the Budget Surplus Balance (SAL) worth Rp300 trillion in the banking sector also contributed to the economic growth performance of 5.61 percent in the first quarter of 2026.

"The economic growth of 5.61 percent is partly supported by this (SAL placement), because the money supply increases in the system with the support of the central bank as well," said Purbaya in the APBN KiTa April 2026 press conference at the Ministry of Finance office, Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, May 6.

Purbaya explained that the government's funds aim to encourage the intermediation function of the banking system by channeling credit to the real economic system.

He did not direct specifically which sectors were the main target and left it to the banks, as actors who better understand the need for credit in economic activities.

Banking also needs to channel government funds so as not to add to the cost of funds or cost of funds. With this design, the government moves economic activity without direct intervention, or what Purbaya calls the invisible hand.

"So, I force the invisible hand to walk in our financial system," he said.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded Indonesia's economy grew 5.61 percent (year-on-year/yoy) in the first quarter of 2026 with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on a constant price basis (ADHK) reaching IDR 3,447.7 trillion, and on the basis of prevailing prices (ADHB) recorded IDR 6,187.2 trillion.

BPS Head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti in a press conference in Jakarta, Tuesday, stated that the growth was the highest in the last five years.

In terms of spending, household consumption is still the main contributor to economic growth with a contribution of 2.94 percent.

Household consumption performance was driven by increased community mobility during the national holiday period and religious holidays such as Nyepi and Idul Fitri.

In addition, various inflation control policies and government stimulus also support consumption, including discounts on transportation tickets, the provision of holiday allowances (THR) or the 14th salary, and the Bank Indonesia reference interest rate or BI rate which is at the level of 4.75 percent.