The Sanur Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for Health and the Bali International Hospital (BIH) were officially inaugurated by President Prabowo Subianto in Denpasar, Bali, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. This major initiative is projected to attract up to IDR 10.2 trillion in investments.

Beyond its financial impact, the Sanur Health SEZ—which spans 41.26 hectares—is also expected to generate approximately 43,647 employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly. At the same time, it aims to redirect domestic patients who previously sought medical treatment abroad to receive care at BIH. The target number of patients served is estimated to reach between 123,000 and 240,000 individuals by 2030.

Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir stated that this development, including BIH within the Sanur SEZ, represents a major opportunity to repatriate foreign exchange (forex) that has been flowing out of the country due to outbound medical tourism.

"Every year, around two million Indonesians travel abroad for healthcare services. This results in nearly IDR 150 trillion in annual forex spending," Erick remarked during the inauguration event of the Health SEZ and BIH in Sanur, as quoted by Antara on June 25, 2025.

By providing internationally standardized healthcare services domestically, it is hoped that this will reduce the outflow of foreign exchange. The estimated forex savings from fewer Indonesians seeking medical treatment abroad could reach IDR 86 trillion, with a potential forex contribution projected to reach IDR 19.6 trillion by 2045.

In his keynote address during the inauguration, President Prabowo Subianto emphasized that the Sanur Health SEZ marks a breakthrough initiative, as it is the first special economic zone in the country that focuses on the health sector.

“I believe the Sanur SEZ is a pioneering move for our republic—it is the first time we have established a special economic zone specifically for world-class, international healthcare services,” said President Prabowo.

He further underscored that the Sanur Health SEZ serves as a key initiative to overcome the country's lag in healthcare, and suggested that similar models should be adopted by other sectors. “This SEZ is an example of a breakthrough in catching up with our development gaps, and it should be replicated across many other sectors,” he added.

President Prabowo also expressed hope that the Bali International Hospital, situated within the Sanur SEZ, would be able to attract and serve patients from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

“Indonesia is a large, progressive, and dynamic country. Therefore, we must also have top-tier healthcare facilities so we can become a regional hub and receive patients from our neighboring areas, such as Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and beyond,” he stated.