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.