Surabaya, East Java (Antara Bali) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli said it is time for Indonesia to control ship market in Asia with its ability to build modern warships.
"Today is historical for Indonesia. For the first time we export a warship. This is the biggest achievement of PT PAL Indonesia. We are proud of it," Rizal Ramli said at a ceremony launching two warships built by the state-owned shipyard company here on Monday.
One of the warships were built by company are on order from the Philippines.
"We have to be a winning nation. We must not always be a loser as we already have superiority in shipbuilding industry.
"In the past the king in shipbuilding industry was Japan and Korea took over later. On high costs of production and insurance, the domination now begin to shift to Vietnam and Indonesia," he said.
However, the nation still needs cooperation in technology and management such as PT PAL Indonesia has with the Dutch shipbuilding company DSNS, he said.
He said the government will continue to back up maritime industry providing facility including for shipbuilding industry.
Earlier that day PT PAL Indonesia launched two warships -- Destroyer with guided missiles (PKR), and Strategic Sea lift Vessel (SSV)-1.
President of PT PAL Indonesia M Firmansyah said PKR is a modern warship of the Frigate class built on order from the Indonesian defense ministry in cooperation with DSNS through transfer of technology.
SSV is a modern ship built in the class of Lloyd Register by Indonesian engineers on order from the Philippines defense ministry.
"SSV is the first warship exported by Indonesia, showing foreign recognition of the Indonesian engineering capability, he said.(WDY)
