Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development: Maritime industry crucial to support economic growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development (Menko IPK) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) has said that the maritime industry is important to support national economic growth. He emphasised that as the world’s largest archipelagic country, Indonesia must have a strong maritime industry to safeguard sea sovereignty while supporting national economic growth. ‘We know that to safeguard Indonesia’s abundant natural resources, including those in our seas, a credible military force is required, with a deterrence effect, a deterrent force that is respected and feared by anyone who tries to disrupt our sovereignty and the integrity of our country,’ AHY said in a Jakarta statement on Friday. AHY undertook a working visit to PT PAL Indonesia to review the development of the national maritime industry while strengthening the synergy of connectivity development and Indonesia’s maritime self-reliance. He explained that the visit also forms part of an effort to strengthen collaboration between the industrial sector and infrastructure development, particularly in maritime connectivity. According to him, PT PAL Indonesia now not only has the capability to design and manufacture ships, but also maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) for surface ships as well as submarines, both for civilian and defence needs. AHY also highlighted the increasing production capacity of PT PAL Indonesia which is considered to be more efficient. One example is the acceleration of Landing Platform Dock (LPD) construction, which can now be completed much faster than before. ‘Docking time that previously required around two years to build an LPD can now be completed in six months,’ he said. In addition to meeting domestic needs, he said PT PAL Indonesia is also increasingly trusted by friendly countries to produce warships and merchant vessels. This indicates an improvement in the competitiveness of the national shipbuilding industry on the global stage. AHY added that the transformation of PT PAL Indonesia not only impacts the defence and maritime sectors but also national economic growth through job creation and strengthening supporting industries. He also stressed the importance of developing human resources and an excellent working culture to support increased national production capacity. According to him, industrial transformation is not only about technology and production, but also about developing competent and competitive human resources.