Jokowi affirmed that the Defend ID establishment aligned with Indonesia's needs and efforts in building independence in the defense industry that can fulfill domestic needs and be ready to enter the international market.
"We need to push developing independence in the domestic defense industry to enter a new era of competition," Jokowi stated on the President's Secretariat YouTube Channel here on Wednesday.
According to the head of state, an independent defense industry can support and maintain the nation's sovereignty.
Jokowi explained that an independent defense industry cannot be realized partially but must be carried out unitedly, and one of the efforts to accomplish this is by establishing the Defend ID.
"We need to strengthen the industry, build the ecosystem, and develop it further," he stressed.
Specifically, he lauded Defend ID, which is under PT LEN Industri, the main holding that is also above four other state-owned defense industry firms: PT Pindad, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT PAL Indonesia, and PT Dahana.
"I have waited long for Defend ID, and I will always rush for our state defense industry firms to be consolidated more, have a strong ecosystem, and be able to compete in a healthy and beneficial way," the president stated.
On the same occasion, Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto remarked that the launch event also marked agreements on cooperation between the Defense Ministry and Defend ID.
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Six agreements signed comprised the procurement of 13 units of Ground Control Intercept (GCI) and its supporting equipment between PT LEN Industri and the Defense Ministry; procurement of small-caliber ammunition between PT Pindad and the Defense Ministry; and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of 12 units of C-130 Hercules aircraft between PT Dirgantara Indonesia and the Defense Ministry.
Furthermore, the other agreements pertained to MRO, improvement, and modernization of 41 navy warships between PT PAL Indonesia and the Defense Ministry; Head of Agreement on Defense Electronics Technology between PT LEN Industri and Thales International SAS from France; and an MoU on amphibious assault vehicle joint production between PT Pindad and FNSS Savunma Sistemleri from Turkey.
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Translator: Gilang G, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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