Surabaya, East Java (ANTARA) - State-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia is laying a strong foundation for defense industry collaboration with India, particularly in the development of naval technology and its supporting systems.
“We are open to any form of cooperation that can strengthen the defense industry ecosystem, especially with India, which has reached a maturity level in its supporting industry,” PT PAL’s marketing director, Wiyono Komodjojo, said here on Friday.
Indonesia’s defense industry made significant progress over the past decade, giving it new bargaining power in global geopolitics.
This development has prompted several countries to seek cooperation with Indonesia’s defense sector, including India.
On Wednesday, the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, Sandeep Chakravorty, visited PT PAL in Surabaya, accompanied by India’s defense attaché Shiv Kumar and honorary consul Manoj Bhat.
According to Komodjojo, the meeting laid the foundation to open more intensive cooperation channels between Indonesia and India, especially in the development of naval technology and its supporting systems.
“We believe that the exchange of knowledge and technology between the two countries can bring long-term strategic benefits,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Chakravorty expressed his admiration for Indonesia’s rapidly advancing defense industry, and PT PAL’s role as a leading player in the maritime sector.
He said that his side is taking this opportunity to engage in deeper discussions on knowledge sharing and technology, as India and Indonesia share a similar approach to adapting defense technology.
Earlier, PT PAL Indonesia took the modernization work on the Philippines Navy’s warship, the Strategic Sealift Vessel (SSV) BRP Tarlac 601.
PT PAL won the project tender, a testament to the company’s regionally and globally recognized capabilities.
“This achievement reflects the growing trust in PT PAL’s services within the international maritime defense sector,” PT PAL’s director of production, Diana Rosa, said.
