Indonesia seeks to foster cooperation with overseas defense industries

Indonesian Vice President Boediono said on Wednesday that the domestic defense industry should cooperate with overseas defense industries. The vice president made the statement as the Southeast Asia's largest economy is striving to bolster a minimum essential force to face multiple threats of terrorism, transnational crimes and catastrophes. "Another way to boost defense industry is to cooperate with defense industry overseas which have been established," Boediono said at the Indodefense 2012 Expo and Forum here. To reach the goal, he said that Indonesia's defense industry could use opportunities provided in various defense treaties already signed by the government and parliament with other countries. "I am confident that there are many chances that can be used to build cooperation to build defense industries of each country," said Boediono. In addition to fostering cooperation, the vice president also called for integrated development of defense industry. "I suggest, in making plans for domestic defense industry, please integrate it with the capacity of other industries and capability of research and development from industries or universities or institutions," he said.