Bank Indonesia (BI) is calling on investors to look beyond Bali’s well-known tourism hub of Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan—collectively known as the Sarbagita area. The move aims to spread economic growth more evenly across the island and reduce its dependence on the tourism sector, which remains vulnerable to external shocks.
According to Erwin Soeriadimadja, Head of BI’s Bali Representative Office, investment serves as a key driver of economic growth, contributing an average of 30 percent to the province’s economy. Yet, he noted, “Investment in Bali also continues to be concentrated in the Sarbagita region.”
Between 2024 and the third quarter of 2025, foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bali reached Rp42.95 trillion. The majority came from the housing and office sectors, with Rp17.15 trillion realized, followed by hotels and restaurants at Rp10.03 trillion, trade and repair at Rp3.56 trillion, fisheries at Rp1.69 trillion, and other services at Rp7.89 trillion.
Badung remains the most popular investment destination, recording Rp26.64 trillion in realized projects. It is followed by Denpasar with Rp6.93 trillion, Gianyar with Rp5.6 trillion, Buleleng with Rp2.21 trillion, and Tabanan with Rp1.97 trillion.
To attract investment outside the Sarbagita area—particularly in Buleleng, Jembrana, Bangli, Klungkung, and Karangasem—Bank Indonesia has partnered with the Kerthi Bali Sadhana Investment Center (PIKBS) to launch the Bali Investment Challenge. This initiative has identified 12 promising investment projects from nine different regions across Bali, showing that potential growth extends well beyond the main tourism belt.
In addition, BI has mapped out several key commodities with strong potential for downstream development through investment, including seaweed, shrimp, salt, and coffee. These sectors are seen as gateways to industrial diversification and rural economic empowerment.
Rahardjo Siswohartono, Director of Non-Industrial Business Licensing Services at the Ministry of Investment, highlighted the strong potential in Bali’s fisheries sector, particularly fish, shrimp, and salt production. He said investment in these areas could take advantage of Bali’s abundant marine resources while helping to expand investment opportunities beyond tourism-heavy regions.
“The development of this sector is expected to strengthen food security, create new jobs, and add value through downstream processing and supply chain development,” said Rahardjo.
However, he also emphasized that future investments must prioritize quality to avoid potential issues such as licensing violations and threats to Bali’s cultural and environmental integrity.
Through these initiatives, both Bank Indonesia and the Ministry of Investment hope to shape a more balanced, sustainable, and inclusive investment landscape for Bali—one that benefits not only its tourist centers but also its lesser-known regions with vast untapped potential.
