Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said at the presidential palace after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a meeting with visiting Timor Leste Primer Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao here on Tuesday that Timor Leste would buy two FPB boats each worth around US$20 million.
"They discussed it just now and the government is ready to provide an export credit through Indonesia`s export financing body. The price is about US$20 each and they (Timor Leste) have ordered two units," he said.
Besides fast patrol boats Timor Leste was also interested to increase military cooperation especially in the field of training by sending its officers to participate in Indonesia`s National Defense Institute (Lemhanas), Staff and Command College (Sesko) and Defense University (Unhan).
"(They) wish to increase military cooperation and military education. They wish to participate in Lemhanas, Sesko and Unhan. We have so far also received participants from other countries," he said.
Besides Timor Leste a number of countries in Southeast Asia have also been interested to buy Indonesia`s strategic industry products such as the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.
Purnomo said the Philippines had expressed its interest in landing platform dock (LPD) ships which could accommodate helicopter and be used for transporting troops and in natural disaster handling operations.
Malaysia meanwhile has ordered ANOA tactical vehicle produced by arms industry PT Pindad while South Korea has ordered CN 235 aircraft produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia, Purnomo said.
Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao would be in Indonesia until March 25. Besides meeting with President Yudhoyono he was also scheduled to give a lecture at state University of Indonesia and attend an international defense convention here.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
