A new ambition is taking shape in Bali, and it goes far beyond tourism. The island is now being considered as a future hub for global finance. The government is exploring plans to turn the Kura-Kura Bali Special Economic Zone into a Financial SEZ, or even an International Financial Center. The idea is to create a space that can draw in global capital. Investors such as family offices, pension fund managers, and sovereign wealth funds are expected to play a key role in this ecosystem.
This plan is not just on paper. Senior officials have already stepped in to assess the site directly. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Investment and Downstreaming as well as Head of the Investment Coordinating Board Rosan Roeslani, and Danantara Chief Operating Officer Dony Oskaria visited the area on May 1, 2026.
The visit had a clear purpose. It was meant to evaluate how ready the area is to support the development of an International Financial Center.
“The visit also aimed to explore the readiness for developing an International Financial Center as one of the strategic steps to strengthen national economic competitiveness,” said Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs spokesperson Haryo Limanseto in a press release issued on May 3, 2026.
The push for this project comes directly from President Prabowo Subianto. Airlangga has been assigned to oversee its development. He also serves as Chair of the National SEZ Council, a role he has held alongside his position as Coordinating Minister since 2019.
Regulations are now being prepared as the foundation of this plan. The government is working to ensure that the future Financial SEZ in Bali can support a wide range of needs, from management structures to facilities designed to attract international investors.
The location itself offers a unique advantage. The Knowledge District within Kura-Kura Bali is being positioned as the core area for this development. It is designed to build an integrated innovation ecosystem. The focus is on knowledge, education, and human resources as the main drivers of new economic growth in Bali.
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Development in the Kura-Kura Bali SEZ is set to continue, with several strategic projects scheduled for completion in 2026. As of the first quarter of 2026, the area has already recorded investment realization of Rp1.62 trillion. It has also created jobs for 2,146 people.
The visit did not stop there. The delegation also reviewed progress in another key area, the Sanur SEZ, which is being developed as a center for health tourism.
This initiative is strengthening Indonesia’s position as a global healthcare destination. One of the main facilities supporting this vision is Bali International Hospital, which has been operating since April 2025. The hospital offers a range of specialist services and has recorded 14,950 patient visits as of the first quarter of 2026. Of that number, 60 percent are foreign nationals, while 40 percent are Indonesian citizens.
Another facility is also on the way. The Solitaire Clinic is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. It will provide services such as cosmetic surgery, medical aesthetics, body contouring, hair transplants, and anti-aging stem cell therapy.
The overall performance of the Sanur SEZ reflects strong growth. By the first quarter of 2026, total investment has reached Rp5.37 trillion. The zone has absorbed 5,444 workers and attracted 279,804 tourist visits.
All of these developments point in one direction. Bali is expanding its role. Not only as a tourism icon, but also as a center for finance, innovation, and healthcare on a global scale.
