Yudhoyono explained that one strategic effort is to develop Kertajati into an aerospace industry hub, starting with cooperation between West Java International Airport (BIJB) Kertajati and Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF).
“We do not stop at identifying problems. We continue to simulate possible solutions, including how to develop Kertajati into an aerospace industry hub, beginning with collaboration between BIJB Kertajati and GMF,” he said here on Thursday.
According to him, the Ministry is also coordinating with the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas) and the Ministry of Transportation to establish Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) cooperation that will strengthen the national aviation industry.
“Recently, we collaborated with Bappenas, the Ministry of Transportation, and other stakeholders to promote MRO facilities. Initially, the focus may be on helicopters, but it could later expand to fixed-wing aircraft,” he explained.
Yudhoyono added that Kertajati’s development is closely tied to the Rebana Metropolitan Area, which includes Majalengka, Cirebon, and Subang. Strategic initiatives such as the aerospace industry at Kertajati, he noted, could trigger economic growth in surrounding regions.
He further highlighted that the Rebana area holds great potential if its infrastructure is well-connected.
“The region should not operate in isolation but be integrated with nearby areas so that its economic benefits can be widely felt,” he said.
“Kertajati and Rebana are concrete examples of how infrastructure can open up isolated regions, stimulate local economies, and strengthen regional competitiveness,” he added.
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Translator: Aji, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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