TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo grants state-capital injection or PMN to state-owned defense company PT Pindad in order to boost the company's productivity which he claims is currently being flooded with orders for bullets from abroad.

“Before receiving PMN, Pindad's bullet production amounted to 275 million. After we gave PMN Rp700 billion, its production increased to 415 million bullets. It’s almost double because it has an additional line from the PMN provided,” he said in a statement broadcast on Presidential Secretariat’s YouTube on Monday, July 24, 2023.

He said the government did not hesitate to raise capital injection since the country's defense industry is currently in a great state. In addition to bullets, Jokowi claimed Pindad's vehicles and weapons are also attracted by foreign markets, resulting in a flood of orders.

The Jokowi further encouraged Pindad to partner with other parties to keep progressing and developing.

“Earlier at the internal meeting, I said that it would be better if we (Pindad) partnered up, it would be better if we looked for partners. So that Pindad's development will be even faster. After this, we will hold a meeting on where to take Pindad,” Jokowi said.

Accompanying Jokowi on a visit to Pindad in Malang, SOE Minister Erick Thohir confirmed that the company is being flooded with orders. He also said he is ready to follow the President's advice regarding partnering with other parties.

“Indonesia's defense industry has good prospects. For this reason, the SOE Ministry and the Defense Ministry are ready to collaborate with potential partners,” Erick Thohir said.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH

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