President Prabowo urges universities to support shipbuilding industry growth

President Prabowo Subianto has asked universities to prepare research and technology to improve the performance and strengthen the domestic shipbuilding industry, according to Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto. “Today the President requested, regarding the Indonesian shipbuilding industry, that we prepare because Indonesia’s need for ships is actually very large. The hope is that in the future our ship industry will grow. We, the universities, are asked to prepare mastery of technology and research directed towards the shipbuilding industry,” Brian said after a limited meeting at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta on Monday. Brian conveyed that the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, universities, and professors together with PT PAL Indonesia can utilise research and studies to advance the shipbuilding industry in the country. This step is taken not only to meet domestic ship demand through independent production in Indonesia but also to support efforts to create jobs. Brian explained that the development of the domestic shipbuilding industry targets the needs of the community, including fulfilling the demand for passenger and goods or logistics transport vessels. This fulfilment is important considering many regions in Indonesia are connected by sea or river routes. “That is a very large market; our industry should grow. We want research to also help PT PAL so that our shipbuilding sector rises,” Brian stated. He added that detailed targets related to the plan were not discussed in today’s meeting.