The proposal
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, Ambara told an audience in Denpasar that Bali should be the epicenter of PFII, the international financial center Indonesia's government is now discussing. NusaBali, which reported the remarks, does not state his position, so his view is presented here as one voice in an open debate.
In his reading, the island could draw international capital and wealth management business. He tied that to two conditions: sound policy and real protection for the environment and Balinese culture.
Where the project stands
President Prabowo Subianto earlier designated Jakarta as the interim location for PFII. He also signaled that the center could later be developed in Bali or elsewhere.
That is a signal, not a ruling. The Bali option remains under evaluation, and the source cites no law or regulation assigning any role to the island. For now this is a proposal under discussion.
It helps to separate levels of authority here. A presidential statement sets a direction but creates no rules. A Bali hub would only become law through a statute or government regulation defining the zone, the regulator's powers and the tax terms, and none of that appears in the report.
A two-hub model
Ambara wants a division of labor. Jakarta would remain the onshore center for the national economy, and Bali would act as the offshore, international hub. He points to Labuan in Malaysia and India's GIFT City as reference models for special financial zones.
In his words, the dual-hub idea would help state revenue and spread development beyond the capital.
He singles out wealth management and family offices, the firms that manage money for very wealthy families, as the segments most likely to bring high-value services and investment to the island.
Why diversification matters
Bali's economy leans heavily on tourism. Ambara frames a financial center as one way to broaden that base.
He highlights pressure on spatial planning, traffic congestion and land conversion to other uses. His argument is that these costs should be offset by higher-value economic activity rather than by ever more visitor volume.
Ambara also told residents not to hesitate, stressing that the initiative comes directly from the president. Yet he conditions any benefit on clear governance that does not sacrifice the environment or the interests of local communities.
Conditions and open risks
The report itself stresses that the concept needs more study. Open questions include the legal framework, oversight of financial services, infrastructure readiness, investment certainty and the effect on local communities. Any such center would also have to meet tax rules, beneficial ownership disclosure and anti-money-laundering standards.
Ambara urged the provincial government to prepare strict rules on land use and local employment in advance. He also asked young Balinese to start earning international certifications now so they can compete for jobs in finance.
What it means for the property market
Nothing changes for real estate today. There is no site decision, no zone boundary and no rulebook. If the project ever lands in Bali, the first practical issues would be the zoning and hiring limits that Ambara himself is calling for.
For villa owners the more relevant signal is political. Congestion and land conversion remain central topics in regional policy, and those are the issues that most often lead to new building restrictions.