STRAIGHTTIME.ASIA, INDONESIA – Bank Indonesia continues to strengthen Indonesia’s national digital transformation through the development of increasingly inclusive digital payment systems.
One of the institution’s strategic initiatives is the implementation of QRIS Jelajah Indonesia (QJI) 2026, a national program specifically designed this year to strengthen the culinary sector as a major driver of both regional and national economic growth.
As part of the broader Festival Ekonomi Keuangan Digital Indonesia (FEKDI), the 2026 edition carries the theme “Exploring Indonesian Culinary Heritage, Pay Easily with QRIS.” The program is being held simultaneously across 46 domestic representative offices of Bank Indonesia nationwide, including in the Riau Islands Province.
Through this initiative, Bank Indonesia aims to accelerate digital economic integration by expanding the adoption of digital payment systems across multiple business sectors, particularly the food and beverage industry, which continues to play a vital role in economic activity and maintains strong linkages with MSMEs, tourism, and the creative economy.
Head of Bank Indonesia Representative Office for Riau Islands Province, Rony Widijarto P, said payment digitalization has now become a crucial instrument in strengthening regional economic fundamentals amid shifting consumer behavior toward a cashless ecosystem.
“QRIS Jelajah Indonesia 2026 is not merely a campaign promoting digital payments. This program is part of a larger strategy to strengthen the national economic structure by increasing MSME productivity, improving the competitiveness of local businesses, and building a digital economic ecosystem that is more efficient, secure, and inclusive,” said Rony Widijarto P during a recent Bincang Bareng Media session.
According to Rony, the culinary sector was chosen as the primary focus because it remains one of the sectors most closely connected to people’s daily lives and generates significant multiplier effects for regional economies.
He explained that digitalization in the culinary sector not only provides convenience for consumers but also opens wider opportunities for business owners to expand market reach, improve operational efficiency, strengthen financial record management, and increase access to formal financing ecosystems.
Nationally, Bank Indonesia data shows that approximately 25 percent of QRIS merchants currently come from the food and beverage category, making it one of the sectors with the highest growth potential in Indonesia’s digital economy development.
