"We are keen to maintain a harmonious and mutually beneficial defense relationship with Slovakia," Subianto noted in his ministry's statement issued in the aftermath of his meeting with Ambassador Ferko.
During the meeting, according to the statement, he emphasized the importance of the Indonesian defense industry's involvement in cooperation with Slovakia, as it is one of the European countries with qualified defense industries.
Slovak products of the primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista) had relatively met NATO standards, he remarked.
He expressed belief that the cooperation with Slovakia would bring a plethora of benefits to Indonesia's defense industry related to production, technology, and Alutsista maintenance, it said.
"The development of our domestic defense industries has become a primary part of ensuring our national defense preparedness and strengths," Subianto affirmed.
The cooperation between Indonesia and Slovakia in the defense industry would hopefully help to strengthen the two countries' bilateral relations, he said.
As reported earlier, Ambassador Tomas Ferko has continued his endeavors to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Slovakia and Indonesia in various sectors.
On Thursday, April 18, 2024, he met with Fadli Zon, chairman of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation (BKSAP) of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Zon told journalists following his meeting with Ambassador Ferko that Slovakia was keen to intensify relations in agriculture, food security, and energy security.
Zon explained that agricultural practitioners in Slovakia have collaborated with Andalas University in Padang, West Sumatra, to develop tropical wheat seeds that can grow in Indonesia.
"There is cooperation between the Slovak Agricultural Research Institute and the Andalas University for developing wheat seed for the tropics," he revealed.
He highlighted that Indonesia had, so far, not been able to grow wheat, as it is a subtropical crop. However, this collaboration has succeeded in developing tropical wheat seeds.
"According to the Slovak ambassador, they have started implementing this in Sumatra, and it has produced good results," he stated.
In terms of energy security, Slovakia is developing research and equipment that can support exploration for geothermal energy, he added.
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Translator: Walda M, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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