Those productive commodities will support national investment and boost economic growth and exportMadiun, East Java (ANTARA) - Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi symbolically flagged off the first export batch of container flat wagons produced by national rolling stock company PT INKA out of the 262 goods wagons ordered by New Zealand's KiwiRail.
"Today, we sent the first two out of the 262 goods wagons for New Zealand. We must be proud of this achievement because New Zealand, as a developed country, gave us an opportunity to contribute to their country. The Transportation Ministry will offer full support for the production and export activities," Sumadi stated at the PT INKA factory in Madiun, East Java, on Friday.
The minister expressed pride over PT INKA's ability to create a product of international standards in keeping with President Joko Widodo's resolve to boost national production and exports.
"We must be proud because we can export a commodity of high strategic and economic value," he affirmed.
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Apart from producing goods wagons, PT INKA has also built freight containers for shipment in the eastern Indonesian region and electric-powered bus that will be used at the G20 Summit in Bali, the minister noted.
"Those productive commodities will support national investment and boost economic growth and export," Sumadi remarked.
The minister also instructed the management of PT INKA to keep up the good work and maintain the quality and price of their product to attract more foreign buyers.
Meanwhile, President Director of PT INKA Budi Noviantoro stated that the recent production of goods wagons and exports aimed to fulfil KiwiRail's order.
"KiwiRail is a state-owned company of New Zealand that operates railway transportation in the country. KiwiRail is also the largest inter-island ferry operator in the country," he noted.
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After the two container flat wagons completed a test to assess compatibility with local rail tracks, the company will commence mass production in February 2022 that is expected to be completed in 18-20 months, as stipulated in the contract, the president director stated.
As the wagons have been made according to New Zealand's specifications provided by KiwiRail, Noviantoro expressed optimism that the testing will yield a positive result.
The president director is confident that the INKA Group would acquire a notable market share in the Oceanian railway industry after supplying 262 goods wagons for New Zealand and completing earlier orders for BradkenRail of Australia.
The goods wagon export to New Zealand is PT INKA's third in 2021. The company had earlier exported their product to the Philippines and Bangladesh and is continuing its efforts to penetrate African markets.
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Translator: Louis Rika S, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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