As Indonesia flirts with going cashless, Go-Jek’s fintech arm, Go-Pay, has formed a strategic partnership with online mutual fund investment platform Bibit.
The tie-up will allow Go-Pay’s users to invest in mutual funds through Bibit by using Go-Pay credit, as reported by local media outlet Merdeka. Bibit is a robo-advisor platform that offers automatic investments in mutual funds based on a user’s risk tolerance. The platform rebalances that investment from time to time in accordance with changes in a user’s financial liquidity and age, as well as market conditions.
In an official statement to reporters in Jakarta, Go-Pay managing director Budi Gandasoebrata said that the service’s mission is to be a bridge for all Indonesians to access financial services, which is why the platform will continue to expand its network through collaborations with various parties. According to Gandasoebrata, Go-Pay has partnered with with 28 financial institutions in the country so far.
Go-Pay users can invest as little as IDR 10,000 (USD 0.70) in Go-Pay credit through Bibit with no transfer fees. “This is very important considering that a transfer fee of IDR 6,500 (USD 0.46) is considered burdensome for individual investors who invest with small capital,” said Gandasoebrata.
By marrying Bibit’s convenience with Go-Pay’s broad coverage, the two companies hope to encourage individual investment in Indonesia. Mutual funds are often seen as the most suitable investment vehicles for beginners due to their simplicity and low risk. Indonesia has been promoting this type of investment lately to boost the number of local investors. The Indonesian Mutual Fund and Investment Association has aimed for 50.25% growth this year to reach 1.49 million mutual fund investors nationwide by the end of 2019.
In March, a competitor of Go-Pay, Ovo, released a mutual funds investment feature in collaboration with Bareksa. Ovo has also formed a partnership with a lending service provider, Do-It, following its acquisition of local P2p lending startup Taralite, one of the first online lending startups in the country.
