Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on the Defense Ministry, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and National Police (Polri) to purchase domestic products for their personnel’s equipment, including uniforms and weapons.
“We have been able to produce and export them (the uniforms) to many countries. However, we also keep buying them from overseas (foreign producers),” he remarked here on Wednesday.
Jokowi noted that undeniably, the military and police are still allowed to import sophisticated products, such as fighter planes, as Indonesia had yet to produce them on its own.
However, since several Indonesian companies, including state-run defense products manufacturer PT Pindad, had been able to manufacture uniforms, weapons, and ammunition, the president encouraged all stakeholders to absorb the domestic products.
"Regarding weapons (and) ammunition, we (also) have been able to make them -- let alone shoes. Why do we have to buy them from overseas (producers)?" he emphasized at the inauguration of the 2023 Business Matching for Domestic Products.
In addition, PT Pindad produces special vehicles, heavy equipment, industrial and service equipment, as well as transportation infrastructure, mining equipment, and cybersecurity infrastructure.
Furthermore, Jokowi recalled that Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is a retired TNI officer, had once told him that the catering provider for the soldiers remained the same ever since he was in the forces until now.
Pandjaitan served in the military from 1970 to 1999.
"Regarding the soldiers’ food, I got a story from General Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, 'Mr. President, since I was a soldier until I retired, and now I am a minister, how come the (catering) provider of the goods (the soldiers' meal) is still the same,'” the president stated.
In fact, having several catering providers will offer better choices, as the prices of the service will also become more competitive, he noted.
He vouched to review the provision of the meal to confirm the story.
On April 20, 2022, President Jokowi had launched the state-owned defense industry holding company DEFEND ID.
In addition to PT Pindad, the electronic enterprise PT Len Industri, aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia, shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia, and explosive manufacturer PT Dahana are members of the holding.
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