Surabaya, E Java (ANTARA) - State-owned train manufacturer PT INKA shipped, for the first time, three locomotives and 15 cars to the Philippines via the Tanjung Perak port in East Java on Saturday.
"The export of locomotives produced by Indonesian sons is the first of its kind," PT INKA president director Budi Noviantoro said, while seeing off the consignment ordered by the Philippine National Railways (PNR) at the port.
The shipment followed the signing of a contract between PNR general manager Junn B Magno and PT INKA’s Noviantoro in Manila on May 28, 2018 for the purchase of locomotives and cars worth US$26 million.
Earlier, PT INKA had exported two train sets of diesel multiple unit (DMU), worth US$9.7 million, to the Philippines in December, 2019 and four DMU train sets, worth US$21.4 million, in February, 2020.
"The export of locomotives to the Philippines is (part of) the implementation of the SOE Go Global (program). It also proves the existence of PT INKA and the continuation of SOEs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic," Noviantoro said.
Director general of metal, transportation mode and electronic industry at the Industry Ministry, Taufiek Bawazier, urged PT INKA to strengthen innovation with the help of digitalization to artificial intelligence.
That would help PT INKA compete with foreign rivals, particularly in the Southeast Asian market, he said. (*)
