RI seeks contract with UAE

RI seeks contract with UAE

ABU DHABI (Reuter): Indonesia is seeking a $250-270 million contract to supply maritime patrol aircraft to the United Arab Emirates, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas said during a visit to the Gulf Arab state on Tuesday.

"We are interested in bidding for a contract to supply aircraft for maritime patrol...we are bidding for the supply of CN-235, a joint venture production between Spain and Indonesia,"

Alatas told a news conference in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi. Indonesia has already supplied seven military versions of the CN- 235 to the UAE which are now in operation.

"The bidding is still going on," Alatas said, adding that firms from Spain and Canada were also bidding for the aircraft.

The two governments on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to provide bilateral trade consultations. Alatas is visiting Abu Dhabi and Qatar on his return to Jakarta from this week's Islamic summit in Pakistan.

Earlier reports said that eight countries, including Turkey, Argentina, the United States, Pakistan, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, and Sweden, have expressed interest in buying N-250 commuter aircraft produced domestically by Indonesia.

The state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) saidt Pakistan had made a firm commitment to buy 15 N-250 turboprop airplanes, Columbia to purchase four units, and Sweden another 12 units.

The other five countries have expressed strong interest in purchasing the fly-by-wire airplanes but have yet to make firm orders.