Inaugurating Defense BUMN Holding, Jokowi: This Is What I'm Chasing

President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. (Photo: Doc. Setkab)

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has just inaugurated the holding of a state-owned company (BUMN) for the Defense Industry named Defend ID. According to Jokowi, the establishment of the holding is very important for Indonesia to build the independence of the defense industry.

Furthermore, Jokowi said that efforts to realize the independence of the defense industry cannot be done alone. Therefore, this holding was formed so that the domestic defense industry is fully prepared to enter a new era of competition and is able to meet basic defense needs to maintain national sovereignty.

For your information, the Defense Industry BUMN Holding consists of five defense companies, namely PT LEN Industri, PT Pindad, PT Dirgantara Indonesia, PT Pal Indonesia, and PT Dahana.

"We must realize the independence of the defense industry together, it cannot be alone, it cannot be partial, we must strengthen the industry, we must also build the ecosystem so that it grows and develops more advanced," he said at the inauguration of the Defense Industry BUMN Holding, Wednesday, April 20.

Jokowi admitted that he had been waiting for the formation of the holding for a long time. He admitted that he had urged the relevant ministers to immediately realize the establishment of the Defense Industry BUMN Holding.

"Therefore, I appreciate the establishment of a Defense Industry BUMN holding called Defend ID, which I have been waiting for a long time, and I continue to pursue, so that our Defense Industry BUMN is much more consolidated, the ecosystem is stronger, able to compete in a healthy and profitable manner," he said.

The former governor of DKI Jakarta is targeting the BUMN holding to be included in the top 50 world defense companies.

"I wrote down this promise, I wrote down this promise. Defend.id will be in the top 50 world defense companies," he said.

Not only that, Jokowi also wants this BUMN and defense holding to encourage an increase in TKDN and reduce imports of defense equipment.

"I ask that the TKDN of superior defense products continue to be increased from the current figure of 41 percent, so that it can be increased up and later to 100 percent. We must move quickly, be agile and be observant to see opportunities, proactively respond to opportunities in order to become part of the global supply chain. It is very important to continue to prioritize the fulfillment of domestic needs," he said.