Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s newly launched Gold Exchange-Traded Fund (Gold ETF) will strengthen the country’s position as a gold investment hub, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Tuesday.Airlangga emphasized the importance of strengthening Indonesia’s gold investment ecosystem, adding that the government would continue to promote the sector, including through the launch of the Gold ETF, which he described as a key investment instrument.“The Gold ETF is also a key instrument launched by OJK. We certainly hope that we can strengthen the gold ecosystem from upstream to downstream,” Airlangga said at the 2026 Members’ Meeting of the Indonesian Issuers Association in Jakarta.He said the government aimed to strengthen Indonesia’s gold sector across the entire value chain, from mining to downstream uses, to support sustainable growth across the industry.The upstream sector includes mining, while downstream uses include gold jewelry and long-term investment.Airlangga said Pegadaian, Indonesia’s state-owned pawnshop, managed around 70 tons of gold when the country’s bullion banking system was launched. That figure has since risen to around 153 metric tons, he said, with a value of about US$20 billion.He compared the figure with gold ETFs in India, which he said were valued at around US$17 billion to US$18 billion, highlighting the potential for Indonesia to compete more strongly in the gold investment market.Airlangga also said Indonesia had overtaken Singapore in the gold sector following the establishment of its bullion bank.“This is our potential to outperform various countries. Previously, Singapore was still ahead, but now, with the establishment of the bullion bank, we have surpassed them,” he stressed.He added that gold remains an important investment instrument and a safe-haven asset amid economic uncertainty, while the public has increasingly recognized the benefits of gold investment through Pegadaian.“This is a positive step taken by Indonesia, especially amid the current uncertainty, as gold has always been a safe haven for investors,” Airlangga said.