President Inspects PT PAL Shipbuilding Facilities

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) -- President Joko Widodo inspected a number of shipbuilding facilities during his visit to state-owned firm PT PAL in Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday. Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said the visit was aimed at checking the conditions in one of the country's strategic industries with their future development in mind. Besides Widjajanto, President Joko Widodo was accompanied by State Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno, President Director of PT PAL Firmansyah Arifin, Governor of East Java Soekarwo, Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini, and Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. "Following the meeting of the Industry Policy Committee at the end of December regarding strategic industries such as PT PAL, PT Pindad, PT DI, and LEN, the president wished to personally inspect them as they have yet to reach optimum output level," Widjajanto explained. The cabinet secretary added that there were seven programs related to strategic industries, including the development of submarines, fighter jets and missiles, and that the president wished the development could be expanded and be made more specific. Furthermore, Jokowi hopes that the development of strategic industries leads towards self-reliance in defense, Widjajanto stated, adding that the procurement of required hardware must be accompanied with technology transfer. Besides visiting PT PAL, the president also visited PT Dok in Surabaya. During the visit to the plant, he took the opportunity to board KRI Fatahillah, which is under maintenance. President Joko Widodo also inspected the passenger terminal of the city's Tanjung Perak Port, after which he expressed his satisfaction over the facility, stating that it would be used as an example for the development of other passenger terminals in other ports. (*) Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo