Indonesia considers U.S. criticism of QRIS against business competition principles

JAKARTA, May 5 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's Business Competition Supervisory Commission considers the United States' criticism of the Quick Response Indonesian Standard (QRIS) and the National Payment Gateway (GPN) to be inconsistent with the principles of fair competition.

Deputy Chairman of the organization Aru Armando said on Monday that the U.S. should recognize QRIS and GPN as legitimate mechanisms fostering healthy competition in the payment market.

"QRIS and GPN offer people the freedom to choose their preferred payment method based on their needs," Armando explained. He added that these systems particularly benefit micro, small, and medium enterprises by providing greater convenience.

The official noted that Indonesia has never restricted the use of Visa or Mastercard. However, he warned that if the U.S. pressures Indonesians to favor these international payment networks, it would violate fair competition principles.

The response follows a complaint from the U.S. Trade Representative Office, which alleged that Indonesia's QRIS policy excluded international stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto stated that the country remains open to collaboration and ensures equal opportunities for all parties in its payment ecosystem. ■