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Must readBali news·4 hours ago
Governor Koster invites President Prabowo to open 2026 Bali Arts Festival
Bali Governor Wayan Koster is preparing a formal invitation for Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to open the 48th Bali Arts Festival PKB-2026 on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Governor Koster discussed this with the Deputy Governor, hoping President Prabowo will have time to attend. The invitation coincides with President Prabowo's planned visit to Bali to discuss designating the province as an International Financial Center IFC. Governor Koster received a call from Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan regarding Bali's preparation as an IFC, a plan viewed favorably by the Provincial Government. Major business leaders from Dubai and Abu Dhabi have expressed interest in relocating to Bali, seeing it as a safe destination. The Provincial Government will discuss the IFC plans to ensure they benefit the region and its people. If President Prabowo cannot attend, the Bali Provincial Government will ensure the smooth operation of the month-long festival, which runs from June 13 to July 11, 2026, and is expected to feature 20,929 artists from 673 organizations. In such a case, the President may assign ministers to attend the opening.
5 min read
Bali news·9 hours ago
National Economic Council to host Bali family office summit in July
The National Economic Council DEN is organizing a family office summit in Bali this July. DEN Chairman Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan stated that the summit follows President Prabowo Subianto's directive to accelerate the legal framework for an International Financial Center in Indonesia. Luhut anticipates potential capital inflows of several hundred billion US dollars, emphasizing the need for institutional digitalization and rebuilding investor confidence to attract offshore wealth. To compete with established financial hubs, Jakarta is proposing zero-tax incentives on funds initially deposited in Indonesia, with taxes applied only when the capital is deployed into domestic development projects. The government is also considering the partial adoption of common law principles to provide legal certainty for investors, a shift from Indonesia's civil law tradition. The Bali summit will be a key platform to present these regulatory changes to global wealth managers and sovereign investors.
5 min read
BreakingBali news·9 hours ago
Flash floods in Buleleng, Bali, kill student after house collapse
A 20-year-old college student, Ricardo Razaq Alghivieri, died in flash floods in Buleleng, Bali, on Friday. Extreme weather and heavy rainfall caused rivers in Bakti Segara village to overflow, leading to strong currents that struck homes near the riverbank, including a house in the Griya Mahadewa residential complex. Ricardo Razaq Alghivieri was initially reported missing after his home was partially destroyed and was later found buried under the collapsed structure after floodwaters receded. Kadek Donny Indrawan, coordinator of the Buleleng Search and Rescue post, confirmed the manual evacuation of the victim. The body was transported to Buleleng Regional Hospital. Authorities have not yet released details on the full extent of the damage caused by the flooding.
4 min read
Must readBali news·9 hours ago
Bali authorities address illegally operating vacation villas
Bali leaders are cracking down on illegally constructed and operating private rental villas across the province. This initiative aims to ensure villas comply with building permits, spatial planning laws, and business operation regulations. The Bali Villa Association BVA is advocating for improved licensing and tax compliance. Ismoyo Sumarlan, Chairman of the BVA, noted that recent changes in licensing regulations have made it challenging for some businesses to maintain legal compliance. He explained that some illegally operating villas are outright breaking the law, while others have not kept up with changing legislation but wish to operate legally. Political leaders are concerned about the negative impact on tax revenue. Indonesia's Deputy Tourism Minister, Ni Luh Puspa, stated that the Ministry of Tourism intends to support villa owners in achieving compliance, while prosecuting those who intentionally break the law. The BVA is prepared to assist members with licensing difficulties. These efforts are expected to provide more assurance for tourists booking private vacation villas. The Bali Villa Rental Management Association BVRMA has proposed a hotel-style star rating system for private villas, which is currently under review. Kadek Adnyana, Chairman of the BVRMA, confirmed that his team is working with Bali's universities to develop classification standards to help tourists and investors assess villa quality, amenities, and pricing.
5 min read
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