BALI, July 25 -- Indonesia is moving to turn its famed resort island of Bali into an international financial centre, with senior adviser Luhut Pandjaitan pitching it as a safe haven for global investors.

Luhut, chairman of Indonesia's National Economic Council, told This Week in Asia, the South China Morning Post's regional affairs platform, on the sidelines of the Nusa Dua Forum that interest had grown among investors seeking alternatives amid geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in the Middle East.

"They said 'We'd like to move our assets, we'd love very much to stay away from here and live in Bali, because it's so peaceful in Bali'," he was quoted as saying.

The 78-year-old said Indonesia must improve transparency and tackl...