"We already use electric buses for the transport of delegates to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Nusa Dua, Bali," Chief Executive of PT Bakrie & Brother Bobby Gafur Umar told reporters here on Monday.
Environmentally friendly buses have been used in a number of countries, Bobby said after a trial run of two units of electric bus in the presence of Director General of Metal, Machine, Transport Equipment and Electronics Industries Harjanto, General Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Engineers Hermanto Dardak, and Deputy Chief Executive of PT Bakrie & Brother Ardie Bakrie.
He said his company provided two electric buses for the transport of the delegates to the IMF-WB meeting, which ended in Nusa Dua on Sunday.
He said a number of provinces such as Central Java and Industrial Estates in Java have indicated interest in using electric buses for transport including the transport of their workers.
"We already offered to a number of regions and business areas and the responses are enthusiastic and positive," he said.
The chief executive of PT Bakrie Autoparts Dino Ryandi said through the unit of the company business cooperation has been formed with leading electric bus manufacturer in China, BYD Auto Co.Ltd, to develop new business line in the automotive sector in the country.
The collaboration was already agreed upon with the signing of cooperation agreement on April 13, 2018 in China.
"We have been ready to set targets for the development of the industry which we believe very prospective," Dino said.
Harjanto said the government strongly supports and encourage any initiative of the private sector to develop electric car industry as the government is interested in achieving its target in reducing gas emission.
"Certainly we hope that the electric bus industry would use more local content. The government would continue to give a push for the expansion of the industry," he said.
Bakrie, however, gave no details of the plan including investment and when the plan is to be implemented.
Reporting by Ahmad Wijaya
Editing by Albert Saragih
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
