The United States, through the USTR, has criticized QRIS (QR Code Indonesian Standard) as a trade barrier, arguing that it could limit the dominance of global payment giants like Visa and Mastercard. This issue was addressed by public policy expert and lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI), Dr. Vishnu Juwono, in a segment on TVOneNews’ YouTube channel.

Dr. Vishnu explained that QRIS, launched in 2019 by Bank Indonesia as part of the National Payment Gateway (GPN), aims to enhance financial inclusion and facilitate transactions, particularly for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The system brings greater standardization, efficiency, and inclusivity to Indonesia’s payment ecosystem.

“Bank Indonesia has expressed its willingness to collaborate with any country, including the U.S. QRIS is now used by more than twelve million merchants across Indonesia, reflecting the country’s commitment to maintaining digital sovereignty. This innovation is beginning to raise concern among major global powers,” said Dr. Vishnu.

He also outlined strategic recommendations to bolster digital sovereignty. These include strengthening digital economic diplomacy with key trading partners such as the U.S. and emphasizing that QRIS is not a form of protectionism but rather a tool for financial inclusion. He also urged the government to enhance legal protections and supportive regulations for domestic systems, and to establish cross-border digital payment cooperation with ASEAN countries and other developing nations.

“This also serves as a shield against ASEAN platform domination. Overreliance on ASEAN-based technology could open the door to external intervention,” Dr. Vishnu added.

Dr. Vishnu concluded by emphasizing the need to increase investment in local technology development, data security, and domestic transaction processing centers to safeguard the sovereignty of Indonesia’s financial system. “It’s not just a code — it’s a national strategy,” he affirmed.