KASIKORNBANK (KBank) is advancing its strategy to become a regional bank, designating Indonesia as a key strategic base by increasing its stake in PT Bank Maspion Indonesia (Bank Maspion), to 89.48 percent. This marks an important step in expanding KBank's business across ASEAN and building an efficient cross-border financial network.
Mr. Chat Luangarpa, KBank Executive President, said that Indonesia is a key strategic market, with the largest economy in ASEAN and GDP of more than USD 1.4 trillion. It is also the country receiving the region's greatest foreign direct investment (FDI), totalling IDR 202.2 trillion, or approximately USD 12.13 billion, supported by domestic consumption, infrastructure development such as ports, airports, and digital systems, as well as government policies that encourage long-term investment and significantly reduce logistics costs. Indonesia is also a primary target of the "China+1" strategy used by multinational companies to diversify their production bases within ASEAN, reflecting strong purchasing power and long-term business opportunities.
Increasing its stake in Bank Maspion Indonesia to 89.48 percent not only reflects KBank's commitment to expanding its overseas operations, but also lays a crucial foundation for establishing a seamless regional financial network. This includes developing comprehensive financial solutions for cross-border businesses, advancing partnership strategies to support the growth of corporate clients in AEC+3, as well as creating new opportunities for market expansion and bolstering regional economic cooperation.
Under its "A Regional Bank of Choice" strategy for overseas expansion, KBank - as the major shareholder of Bank Maspion Indonesia - focuses on serving corporate clients and high-potential medium-sized enterprises in both Thailand and Indonesia. The approach comprises: 1) Product Strategy - Developing integrated financial solutions tailored for cross-border business needs, including business loans, cash management, supply chain financing, trade finance, and syndicated loans to enhance liquidity and broaden business opportunities for corporate clients. The Bank also offers funds transfer service to Indonesia in three currencies - IDR, USD, and THB - covering both business and retail customers through a fast and reliable system. 2) Partnership Strategy - Leveraging networks within the AEC+3, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and China, as well as representative offices in Myanmar, Japan, and South Korea, to create a seamlessly interconnected financial ecosystem and open new opportunities for market expansion and regional economic cooperation.
Mr. Chat concluded that this increase in stake represents a significant milestone in the Bank's growth journey, reinforcing its role as a trusted regional financial institution and a key mechanism in driving sustainable financial growth.