Indonesia to host first military expo
Indonesia to host first military expo
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia is set to host its first defense industry
showcase, featuring over 250 prominent companies from around the
world, from Wednesday through Saturday.
A variety of products will be on show during the three-day
exhibition at the Jakarta International Expo in the Kemayoran
fairground in Central Jakarta, including Russian-made Sukhoi jet
fighters, military trucks, Steyr gas-operated semi- and fully
automatic assault rifles, integrated shore-based communications
systems for maritime security, head protectors and military
boots.
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said on Monday that the
event, called Indo Defense 2004, would help visitors and trade
delegates develop business contacts and networks.
"However, we are not expecting all the participants to
directly strike business deals during the expo," Juwono said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on his way home
from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in
Santiago, is expected to open the exhibition.
Apart from Russia's Rosoboronexport State Corporation, which
produces Sukhoi aircraft, other top names taking part in the
defense expo include Steyr Mannlicher and Interarms, Oerlikon
Contraves, Teijin Twaron GMBH, Daimler Chrysler, Korea Aerospace
Industries Ltd., Daewoo Heavy Industry and Machinery Ltd.,
Britain's Rolls-Royce International Ltd., Kazan Helicopters,
Russia's Rosverthol, Indian-Russian joint venture company Brahmo
Aerospace, and, from Indonesia, the Army's munitions manufacturer
PT Pindad, the Navy's shipbuilder PT PAL and state aircraft maker
PT Dirgantara Indonesia.
The event comes as the defense ministry under Juwono is moving
to streamline the military procurement process, which will start
with the drawing up of a list of the hundreds of contractors that
supply the country with its military equipment.
Indonesia has been seeking alternative suppliers of arms and
other military equipment following an embargo imposed by the
United States after East Timor atrocities following the former
province's separation from Indonesia in 1999.
In the past year, the administration of former president
Megawati Soekarnoputri bought four Sukhois and two Mi-35 assault
helicopters from Russia and two submarines from South Korea as
part of an attempt to rebuild the country's defense capabilities,
which the military claims have been decimated by the U.S.
embargo.
Defense experts from various countries will find a forum where
they can exchange views, with a series of seminars on strategic
security and defense issues in the Asia Pacific region due to be
held on the sidelines of the exhibition.