Ministry and UI cooperate on defense

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Defense and the University of Indonesia (UI) signed on Thursday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on research and development of the country's defense equipment industry.

The MOU was signed by the secretary-general of the ministry, Rear Marshal Suprihadi, and UI's deputy rector Edie Toet Hendratno at the Urip Sumoharjo building in the ministry office here.

Suprihadi welcomed the university's pledge to contribute to the country's defense and security development, saying it was part of people's participation in national defense as recommended by law.

Edie expected the cooperation would in the short run produce armored vehicles. "The innovation would reduce Indonesia's dependency on foreign countries for defense equipment," he said. --Antara