Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is preparing Bali to serve as an international financial center (IFC).Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the development of the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is being accelerated as a potential hub for the financial sector.”Whether the Kura Kura Bali SEZ can be developed into an international financial center will be discussed directly with Danantara,” Hartarto said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Monday.The government is currently finalizing regulations to serve as the legal basis for establishing a financial-sector SEZ in Bali.The zone is designed to accommodate the requirements of a financial center, ranging from governance schemes to the provision of facilities capable of attracting global investors.PT Bali Turtle Island Development, the developer and operator of the Kura Kura Bali SEZ, highlighted the advantages of the Knowledge District ecosystem as a strategic location for developing a financial hub.The area is designed to build an integrated innovation ecosystem by leveraging knowledge capital, education, and human resources as drivers of new economic growth in Bali.The Kura Kura Bali SEZ is also preparing an ecosystem to support the operations of an international financial center through a Business Hub, which is designed as a meeting point for the Global Blended Finance Alliance (GBFA) program, business schools, and leading investment platforms in Indonesia.In addition, the Knowledge District will be strengthened by an Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center, which will serve as a platform for quality education, including the ACS Bali intercultural school, as well as for coastal environmental research through the International Mangrove Research Center (IMRC).Looking ahead, the development of the Kura Kura Bali SEZ will continue with the completion of several strategic projects in 2026.As of the first quarter of 2026, the SEZ recorded investment realization of Rp1.62 trillion, or around US$93.1 million, employing 2,146 people.Meanwhile, regarding the Sanur SEZ, Hartarto said its development is focused on strengthening the health tourism ecosystem to position Indonesia as a world-class healthcare destination.One of its flagship facilities is the Bali International Hospital (BIH), which has been operational since April 2025 and offers a wide range of specialist services.As of the first quarter of 2026, the hospital recorded 14,950 patient visits, comprising 60 percent foreign nationals and 40 percent Indonesian citizens.At the same time, the Solitaire Clinic in the Sanur SEZ is scheduled to begin operations in 2026, offering services such as cosmetic surgery, medical aesthetics, body contouring, hair transplants, and anti-aging stem cell therapy.Cumulatively, as of the first quarter of 2026, the Sanur SEZ recorded investment realization of Rp3.57 trillion, or around US$205 million, employing 5,444 people and attracting 279,804 visitors.