This is a good initial step for the two neighboring Asean member states."
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - The Malaysian government has expressed keen interest in buying Indonesian-made CN295 military transport aircraft, considering it is very competitive particularly in Southeast Asia, Indonesian Deputy Defense Minister Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin said.

"The presence of the Malaysian air force chief and other air force and police officers (in the road show) indicates that they have great interest in making an observation of CN295 aircraft," Sjafrie said on the sidelines of CN295 military transport aircraft road show at Subang airport in Malaysia on Friday.

Sjafrie said he had earlier met with Malaysian counterpart who responded positively to a plan for an observation of CN295.

"This is a good initial step for the two neighboring Asean member states," he said.

But he stopped short of revealing how many CN295s the Malaysian government was interested to buy.

Besides Malaysia, Sjafrie said other Asean member states to which he had visited such as the Philippines, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand and Myanmar also had given positive responses to the aircraft whose several parts of components were produced domestically.

"During my trip to a number of Asean member states, they gave positive responses to the aircraft. In the Philippines, we also took part in a limited tender. In Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam, the aircraft also has good market prospect," he said.

The CN295 is made by state aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) in Bandung, West Java.

Asked about the financing of the aircraft`s production, he said PT DI had good capacity so it would not be a problem for banks to support it.

"About funds, it is not difficult for PT DI because it has good capacity and even many of its products have penetrated the global market. Several of its products such as wings has been exported to Spain and other 14 countries," he said.

PT DI President Director Budi Santoso meanwhile said the company was focusing on fulfilling the Indonesian military (TNI)`s order.

"Hopefully, the TNI`s order can be met this year. After that, we will meet orders from neighboring countries," he said.
(T.N004/S012/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013