Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government continues to boost growth of the aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) industry in Indonesia in view of the potential development to be integrated with several airports in the country.

The Raja Haji Fisabilillah International Airport in Bintan, Riau Islands, and Kertajati International Airport in Majalengka, West Java, among others, will be integrated with the MRO industry.

"Bintan is currently developing an Airport and Aerospace Industry Park on an area of four thousand hectares," Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto noted in a press release received by ANTARA on Friday.

This integrated aviation area will be the most complete in Indonesia, with several supporting facilities, such as airports, aircraft repair facilities, flight training, as well as business and residential areas.

Industry Minister and the Aircraft Maintenance Service Association have agreed to forge synergy to develop educational units and provide teaching experts in the field of aircraft maintenance.

Further cooperation will also be established with the industry to directly absorb workers.

Indonesia is expected to absorb as many as 12-15 thousand MRO experts in the next 15 years. Meanwhile, aviation institutions in Indonesia only produce 200 experts per year, while the country requires a thousand annually.

The domestic aviation industry continues to grow and experience significant growth, indicated by an increase in the amount of air traffic, both the flow of passengers and goods.

Domestic air passengers increased annually by an average of 15 percent over the last 10 years. The number of international air passengers rose to about eight percent, and Indonesia is the third-largest country in Asia in the purchase of aircraft after China and India.

President Joko Widodo highlighted the importance of the aircraft MRO industry.

Indonesia should be prudent and highly competitive to utilize the opportunity, according to President Widodo.

In future, this industry holds high potential following growth in the country`s tourism and economic sectors.

In addition, the aircraft MRO industry can lower the cost of the aviation industry, including the cost of importing aircraft components.

In fact, Widodo believes that Indonesia can compete with other countries, such as Singapore, in providing aircraft maintenance services.

Reported by Sella Panduarsa Gareta
(T.Y013/A/KR-BSR/A/H-YH)

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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