Jakarta – The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has announced its strong support for the financial health program championed by Queen Maxima, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA).
This initiative represents a strategic follow-up to the financial inclusion programs previously developed by OJK in collaboration with the Indonesian Government. The financial health program is anticipated to deliver direct benefits, significantly enhancing the welfare of the community.
“We believe this approach is highly pertinent to Indonesia’s needs,” stated Mahendra Siregar, Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners, during the National Financial Health Event hosted by OJK in Jakarta on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
He further added, “We are prepared to collaborate with the UNSGSA and will, moving forward, involve various stakeholders who have consistently partnered with us on financial literacy and inclusion programs, to collectively embark on a comprehensive financial health and welfare program for all citizens.”
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The event saw the attendance of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in her capacity as the UNSGSA for Financial Health, alongside Friderica Widyasari Dewi, OJK’s Chief Executive of Financial Services Business Conduct Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection. Approximately 1,000 women from various community groups in Jakarta also participated in the significant gathering.
According to Mahendra, the financial health program seamlessly aligns with national priority initiatives embedded within Indonesia’s development agenda. This agenda is acutely focused on fostering responsible financial management, building resilience against economic shocks, and enabling effective future planning for its populace.
During her address, Queen Maxima elaborated that financial inclusion, such as merely having a bank account, serves only as a tool and not as the ultimate objective in improving overall well-being.
“Because once everyone has access, we must now assist them in utilizing that access to better their lives, such as helping them manage daily finances, control income and expenses, assist in budgeting, obtain appropriate credit, or prepare for education costs,” Queen Maxima explained.
Furthermore, the concept of financial health actively promotes family financial resilience in the face of unforeseen shocks, advocating for the strategic use of financial products like insurance and the establishment of emergency funds.
Queen Maxima emphasized that robust financial health will fortify the stability of the financial system, stimulate long-term economic growth, and serve as a crucial safety net for the Indonesian public, ultimately encouraging greater societal productivity.
“This is not merely a macroeconomic issue; it is equally relevant for banks and fintech companies. We discussed this with them yesterday. It’s not just CSR or a social activity. It’s an essential need. In the long run, they will reap greater benefits if their customers are financially healthy,” Queen Maxima affirmed.
In advancing financial health, Queen Maxima outlined three crucial aspects. Firstly, it involves transforming the perception that financial literacy is solely about understanding products; instead, it must pivot towards achieving true financial health, ensuring that financial products genuinely meet community needs. Secondly, it requires developing financial products that do not harm consumers, necessitating innovation in consumer protection. Thirdly, it is imperative to cultivate a shared understanding, particularly among financial service providers, that financial health is not just a corporate social responsibility initiative but an integral and vital component of a sustainable long-term business model.
Government Support
Queen Maxima’s working visit on Thursday also included a high-level meeting with several ministerial and institutional leaders. Attendees included Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Chairman of the OJK Board of Commissioners Mahendra Siregar, Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia Destri Damayanti, and Chairman of the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) Anggito Abimanyu.
Also present were OJK’s Chief Executive of Financial Services Business Conduct Supervision, Education, and Consumer Protection Friderica Widyasari Dewi, Director General of Financial Sector Stability and Development at the Ministry of Finance Masyita Crystallin, and Expert Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy Zelda Wulan Kartika.
During the forum, Airlangga underscored the critical importance of financial well-being, highlighting its profound impact on financial sector stability and the achievement of national development targets.
“When financial health declines, families reduce consumption, deplete savings, and resort to expensive debt, making it increasingly difficult to cope. This adversely affects financial stability, labor productivity, and the attainment of long-term national development targets towards 2045. Therefore, strengthening financial health is paramount,” Airlangga stated.
Fraud & Scam Focus Group Discussion
Queen Maxima also actively participated in a discussion centered on fraud and scams, which was led by Friderica Widyasari Dewi and attended by representatives from the Satgas Pasti Task Force and the Indonesia Anti-Scam Center (IASC).
During the session, Friderica detailed the crucial role of the IASC, which was established by OJK alongside members of the Satgas Pasti in November 2024 to combat the pervasive issue of fraud and scams. She reported that within its first year of operation, the IASC had received reports totaling nearly Rp8 trillion in losses.
OJK and IASC are currently developing an integrated information system specifically designed to tackle fraud and scams across Indonesia, aiming to bolster prevention efforts and enhance synergy and collaboration among various institutions.
Queen Maxima’s series of engagements concluded with a bilateral meeting involving all members of the OJK Board of Commissioners, where discussions focused on the concrete implementation and follow-up plans for the financial well-being program in Indonesia.
Summary
Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) menegaskan dukungan kuatnya terhadap program ‘Kesehatan Keuangan’ yang diusung Ratu Maxima, Utusan Khusus Sekjen PBB untuk Kesehatan Keuangan (UNSGSA). Ketua Dewan Komisioner OJK, Mahendra Siregar, menyatakan kesiapan berkolaborasi dalam inisiatif yang strategis ini, sebagai kelanjutan program inklusi keuangan untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat. Ratu Maxima menjelaskan bahwa inklusi keuangan adalah alat, sementara tujuan utamanya adalah membantu masyarakat mengelola keuangan harian dan merencanakan masa depan secara lebih baik.
Kesehatan keuangan dipandang penting untuk memperkuat stabilitas sistem finansial, mendorong pertumbuhan ekonomi, dan menjadi jaring pengaman bagi publik. Ratu Maxima menekankan tiga aspek krusial: pergeseran persepsi literasi menuju kesehatan finansial sejati, pengembangan produk yang aman, serta pemahaman bahwa kesehatan keuangan integral bagi model bisnis berkelanjutan. Kunjungan tersebut juga melibatkan diskusi tingkat tinggi dengan pemerintah mengenai pentingnya kesejahteraan finansial, serta pembahasan penanganan penipuan dan investasi ilegal bersama OJK dan Indonesia Anti-Scam Center (IASC).
