BNI Diaspora Heroes Winners In South Korea Successfully Open Business To Develop Warung Nusantara

Indria Dhanualve Duduh, owner of the Warung Nusantara restaurant in Ansan City, South Korea. (Photo: Doc. BNI)

JAKARTA - PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk or BNI continues to contribute in supporting the activities of the Indonesian diaspora in South Korea. One of the diasporas that benefited from the existence of BNI is Indria Dhanualve Duduh, the owner of the Warung Nusantara restaurant in Ansan City, South Korea.

As the only bank from Indonesia with a full-branch license in Ginseng Country, BNI is a financial solution that facilitates transactions and business management of Indonesian diaspora.

BNI Corporate Secretary Okki Rushartomo said BNI's presence in Seoul, South Korea, is a banking partner that can meet all the financial services needs of Indonesian citizens (WNI) in South Korea.

"BNI is committed to always supporting Indonesian diaspora in South Korea through various financial products and services, including business loans, deposits, as well as efficient exchanges and sending funds," Okki said, in his statement, quoted Monday, February 10.

One of the Indonesian diaspora that feels the benefits of BNI's presence is Indria Dhanualve or who is familiarly called Cika. The woman from Bogor who has lived in South Korea since 2012 is an entrepreneur who is also active in teaching Indonesian culture in local schools.

Cika has known BNI since 2019 while still working as a local SIM card seller. Sales can compete by combining BNI account opening services for Indonesians in need.

"So, anyone who wants to be helped open a BNI savings account can contact me, later they will at the same time get a Korean number," said Cika.

Thanks to his contribution in introducing BNI in South Korea and providing education to Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), Cika received an award as Diaspora Heroes from BNI in 2024. He admitted that BNI's presence also helped his culinary business become more known to the public even though it was located in the basement of a building.

Starting from orders for rice boxes that are needed by many Indonesian diaspora, now Cika is developing Warung Nusantara in the city of Ansan, South Korea. Restaurants with typical Indonesian dishes such as fried rice, meatballs, lontong sayur, to rendang, are more well known to people who are looking for halal food in the city.

"About 80 percent of visitors to Warung Nusantara are Indonesians, they can pay using BNI debit cards here, then 20 percent of them are Koreans, as well as Bangladeshi and Indian people. Those who are looking for halal food usually come here," said Cika.

Not only that, Cika also often helps educate PMI and other Indonesian diaspora who do not understand how to access financial services in South Korea.

"Most PMIs come from the regions and do not have savings. With BNI, they can send money to families more easily. Moreover, now there is a wondr by BNI application," he added.

As a customer who also regularly uses fund delivery services, Cika appreciates the presence of wondr by BNI which makes its financial transactions more practical. Through this mobile banking application, it is easier for him to send pocket money to fill out electricity tokens for his family in the country.

"In the past, you had to use tokens, and if the token was lost, you had to re-register. Now, with wondr by BNI, everything is easier. Expenditures are also more controlled," said Cika.