The defense industry has to be improved both in competitiveness and capacity, Jokowi said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo said he want total renovation of the countrys defense strategic industry in order to create self reliance in military equipment.
The defense industry has to be improved both in competitiveness and capacity, Jokowi said when opening a session of the Committee for Defense Industry Policy here on Tuesday.
Total revamping of the strategic defense industry including state-owned PT Pindad that produces military equipment and commercial goods like generators, PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI), a state-owned aircraft maker, and PT PAL, a state shipobui8dling company, is necessary, he said.
"The industry should be developed for long term use not only for one or two years," he added.
In order to be more efficient, the industry should be used not only to produce military equipment but also non military equipment, he said.
"The shipbuilding technology should be able to produce both warships and commercial ships," he cited.
He said Indonesia is a maritime country made up of islands , therefore, the countrys maritime policy should be given back the dominant formation of power.
The maritime policy should not be translated merely as sea toll road policy and development of ports, he said.
"But most important is that we ourselves do the development of maritime industry and the shipyards. That is what counts more, otherwise foreign players will remain dominant and we would continue to be the onlookers," he said.
Attending the session of the Committee included Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Indroyono Soesilod , Coordinating Minister for Political Affirs, Law and Security Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Minister for National Development Planning Andrinof Chaniago and Minister for State Enterprises Rini Soemarno.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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