INDO DEFENSE EXPO SUPPORTS MARITIME AXIS VISION by Fardah

  Jakarta, Nov 11, 2016 (Antara) - Indonesia has once again successfully organized the Indo Defense Expo at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran area, Jakarta, from November 2 to 5, 2016.

        The exhibition is one of Southeast Asia's biggest expo and conference on defense, aerospace and marine industry.

        This year, the military weaponry industry expo was themed 'Bolstering Defence Industry Cooperation: Achieving a Global Maritime Fulcrum and a Secure World,' to support the government's vision to make Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic country, a global maritime axis.

        Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, in his opening remarks, confirmed that the Seventh Indo Defense Expo was in line with the global maritime axis goal.

         Maritime defense has become vital for maintaining the safety of national and international shipping, according to Ryamizard.

        Ryamizard noted that the international exhibition opened up cooperation opportunities for the participants and visitors from various defense industrial companies and countries across the world.

         "Indo Defense Expo and Forum 2016 is expected to benefit not only the defense field but also the country's economy and tourism, including research and technology development," he stated. 
   He expressed hope that Indonesia would be able to build submarine and military aircraft through technology transfer cooperation with other countries.

INDONESIA SHOULD RELY ON DOMESTIC DEFENSE INDUSTRY TO MODERNIZE WEAPONRY by Fardah

Jakarta, July 2, 2015 (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has renewed his commitment to changing the procurement system of the military's primary weaponry defense system (Alutsista), following a plane crash that claimed 134 lives in North Sumatra, on June 30.

         Indonesia must rely on its domestic defense industry in carrying out its weaponry modernization program.

         "The system to procure Alutsista must be changed. This is the momentum. We should not just buy any weapon but should work towards modernizing the weaponry systems," Jokowi noted on July 1, 2015.

         The head of state emphasized that Indonesia should strive to become self-reliant in procuring Alutsista by relying on its domestic defense industry.