JAKARTA — IEF Talks Panel 1 titled “The Open Network: Powering Financial Services” was held on the first day of the 12th Indonesia Economic Forum (IEF) at ARTOTEL Suites Mangkuluhur, Jakarta, on Wednesday (5/2/2026). The discussion highlighted how the Indonesia Open Network (ION) could transform the digital financial services landscape to become more open, competitive, and inclusive.

Expanding fairer financial access

The keynote was delivered by Nilay Patel (Founder, Easypay), who emphasized that open networks can democratize access to digital finance. “For too long, many MSMEs have relied on just one or two major platforms. An open network gives them more choices, stronger bargaining power, and more equal opportunities,” Nilay said.

He added that financial inclusion is not only about access to payments but also access to financing and fair data use. “If transaction data becomes more interoperable, MSMEs can be assessed more easily and accurately for credit,” he explained.

Cloud, MSMEs, and interoperability

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Bayu Prawira Hie, with panelists Siddharth Prakash (Google Cloud), Ronald Walla (APINDO), and Sourabh Gupta (Flip).

Siddharth Prakash highlighted the role of cloud infrastructure in accelerating ION adoption. “ION is not just a policy concept, but an infrastructure that requires reliable, secure, and scalable technology,” he said.

“Cloud enables MSMEs to access world-class technology without heavy investment,” he added.

Ronald Walla underscored the challenges faced by MSMEs in accessing financial services. “Many MSMEs are still informal and struggle to obtain financing. ION can help build a more credible digital footprint for them,” he noted.

“However, this must go hand in hand with digital literacy and strong consumer protection,” Ronald stressed.

Meanwhile, Sourabh Gupta emphasized the importance of payment interoperability. “In the future, consumers should not have to worry about which platform they use. What matters is that transactions work smoothly across applications,” he said.

“Open standards will reduce costs and improve efficiency across the ecosystem,” Sourabh added.

Panel conclusion

The panel agreed that the success of ION would depend on a combination of clear regulation, market trust, and collaboration among government, fintech companies, and MSMEs.