Indonesia plans to issue samurai bonds in second semester 2020

INDONESIA - JAKARTA.The Indonesian government aims to sell samurai bonds in the second semester of 2020 as part of efforts to fund the fiscal gap, a finance ministry official said on Thursday.

"We have started to do the preparation for samurai bond (issuance) in Japan," Deni Ridwan, director of sovereign bonds at the finance ministry, said in a video call.

Read Also: Indonesia steps up fiscal spending to keep economy from contracting

Indonesia's budget deficit in 2020 is expected to widen further to 6.34% of gross domestic product or about 1,039.2 trillion rupiah (US$73.78 billion) as the government steps up spending for its coronavirus response and economic stimulus.