Flooring Guide by Cinvex DENPASAR – The Bank Indonesia Representative Office for West Nusa Tenggara (BI NTB), in collaboration with the Indonesian Navy, has officially launched the 2026 Sovereign Rupiah Expedition (Ekspedisi Rupiah Berdaulat or ERB). Running from May 18 to May 24, 2026, this mission underscores the nation’s commitment to maintaining economic sovereignty in the country’s most remote regions.
Raden Aga Nugraha, Executive Analyst at Bank Indonesia’s Currency Management Department, explained that the ERB team is currently traveling aboard the KRI Pulau Rimau-724 warship. The mission is set to visit five remote islands categorized as 3T—Frontier, Outermost, and Underdeveloped—within the West Nusa Tenggara region, specifically Moyo Island, Pusu Langgudu, Medang Island, Maringkik Island, and Gili Gede.
“For this expedition, we are carrying a cash exchange working capital of Rp8.34 billion, marking a 3.15% increase compared to the 2025 program,” Raden stated on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.
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Raden emphasized that the ERB is a mandate derived from Law No. 7 of 2011 concerning Currency, which tasks Bank Indonesia with ensuring the availability of legal tender in fit-for-circulation condition throughout the Indonesian archipelago. The mission also addresses the unique challenges posed by the country’s geography and the varying levels of financial literacy among residents in remote areas.
Since its inception in 2012, this partnership between Bank Indonesia and the Navy has proven highly effective. As of 2025, they have conducted 150 mobile cash services reaching 766 islands across the nation.
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The success of these efforts has even garnered international acclaim. “This achievement was recognized globally when we received the Currency Initiative Award at the 2024 Central Banking Awards in London. The ERB was honored for its success in navigating Indonesia’s geographical complexity through an extraordinary synergy with the Indonesian Navy,” Raden added.
Reflecting this spirit of cooperation, Commander of the Mataram Naval Base, Colonel Asep Tri Prabowo, reaffirmed the Navy’s full support for the 2026 expedition. “Our synergy with Bank Indonesia is a tangible demonstration of the state’s presence in safeguarding economic sovereignty by ensuring the widespread use of the Rupiah in the 3T regions,” Asep explained.
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Summary
The Bank Indonesia Representative Office for West Nusa Tenggara (BI NTB), in partnership with the Indonesian Navy, has launched the 2026 Sovereign Rupiah Expedition to ensure the availability of legal tender in remote 3T regions. From May 18 to May 24, 2026, the mission is visiting five islands, including Moyo and Gili Gede, while carrying Rp8.34 billion in cash for exchange services. This represents a 3.15% increase in funding compared to the previous year’s program.
Mandated by Law No. 7 of 2011, this initiative serves to maintain economic sovereignty by providing fit-for-circulation currency across the archipelago. The ongoing collaboration, which has reached 766 islands since 2012, has earned international recognition, including the 2024 Currency Initiative Award. The Indonesian Navy continues to support the mission as a vital effort to ensure the widespread use of the Rupiah in the country’s most isolated areas.