Denpasar (ANTARA) – The government projects the planned development of the Indonesia International Financial Center (IIFC) in Bali will help the tourist island diversify its engines of economic growth, Deputy Finance Minister Juda Agung stated.According to a press release cited here on Friday, he called on Finance Ministry officials across Bali to deepen coordination with local authorities and academics to help translate the strategic plan into implementation.Agung said during the ministry’s town hall meeting in Denpasar on Thursday (July 30) that he is confident that Bali can bolster its economy through sectors beyond tourism, including by hosting the IIFC.He emphasized that developing the world-class center represents a strategic step toward building a more robust architecture for the financial sector that balances efforts to boost Indonesia’s global competitiveness with pursuing national interests.The deputy minister made the remarks after the House of Representatives (DPR) passed the IIFC bill into law in Jakarta on July 21.DPR enacted the law to provide a strong legal basis for the government to develop the IIFC as a facility capable of attracting quality investment, upgrading the national financial service sector, expanding financing options for development, and bolstering Indonesia’s global economic competitiveness.During Thursday’s meeting, Agung also highlighted progress in various state-funded initiatives across Bali, including the Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) program, the tuition-free Sekolah Rakyat (People’s School) program, and the university-oriented Garuda Top School program.Citing data from the ministry’s Bali treasury office, he noted that 277 kitchens had been established across the island to provide MBG to a total of 618,390 schoolchildren, pregnant women, and children under five, supported by 12,503 workers.He also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to upholding integrity; combating corruption, collusion, and nepotism, and advancing digital transformation to improve public services.