IDB Asked to Facilitate Export of RI Made Aircraft

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Minister for State Enterprises Dahlan Iskan said he had asked the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to help facilitate sales of Indonesian made aircraft through the bank's export credit facility.

"IDB is interested in providing export credit facility for a number of countries wanting to buy aircraft products of PT Dirgantara Indonesia," Dahlan said in a short message service (SMS) from Saudi Arabia to Antara  Monday.

PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) is a state aircraft maker in Bandung producing turboprop aircraft and helicopters. Dahlan said PT DI would have larger sales if it is backed up with export credit facility  as most buyers had always wanted payment facility .

Dahlan, who is Saudi Arabia until Wednesday on a hajj pilgrimage, took time to promote sales of DI products in Middle East. He met with IDB president  Dr Ahmed Mohammed Ali in Mecca accompanied by  Dr Ahmed Saleh Hariri, IDB head for South and Southeast Asia.

He told the IDB leaders that PT DI was offering to sell a number of aircraft to Bangladesh  and a number of African countries. (*/DWA)