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resident Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo has pledged to take measures to bolster the country'€™s naval defense system in order to help implement his maritime-axis vision.

During a visit to the Indo Defense Expo 2014 at Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, Jokowi said that he would provide additional patrol vessels for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to better guard the country'€™s territorial waters, with a special focus on stopping illegal fishing and preventing the influx of illegal migrants by boat, many of whom originate in the Middle East.

'€œWe have to understand that we have a severe lack of patrol vessels. If we don'€™t add more, how can we monitor the 5,400 vessels passing [through our waters] every day?'€ Jokowi said, adding that he was convinced that the majority of vessels violated the country'€™s territorial borders.

In his visit to the exhibition, Jokowi inspected several defense products, including a target drone used for Air Force pilot training, a hovercraft, a number of tanks and a PT Pindad'€™s light-armored Anoa vehicle.

Jokowi also visited booths showcasing locally manufactured military products from PT Palindo Marine Batam, state-controlled aerospace company PT Dirgantara Indonesia and South Korean Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME)

The DSME and the Defense Ministry signed a US$1.1 billion contract for the manufacture of three U-209 diesel-electric submarines in December 2011.

In his opening remarks at the exhibition on Wednesday, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu pledged to spur the development and boost the production of naval weapons by national defense firms in an effort to realize Jokowi'€™s vision of maritime power.

Ryamizard said his ministry was committed to advancing the country'€™s defense industry by promoting cooperation between local and overseas defense firms. He said this would eventually lead to the transfer of knowledge and experience needed for local defense companies to produce state-of-the-art armaments for the TNI independently.

In a bid to improve the country'€™s obsolete weapons system, the government previously implemented a plan for following the military'€™s Minimum Essential Force (MEF) blueprint for achieving an independent defense industry by 2024.

Jokowi did not elaborate on what kinds of weapons the country would obtain, but said that they could be produced via existing cooperation between Indonesia and countries like South Korea.

'€œI think we need such technology [like what was displayed at the Expo]. And if we forge such cooperation with multiple countries, we will not be dependent on just some countries, which would be better,'€ he added.

Jokowi also pointed out that economic growth would eventually increase Indonesia'€™s defense budget.

• Jokowi said naval defense system key to his maritime-axis vision
• Many violations in RI waters go unnoticed
• Jokowi expects cooperation with other countries in building weapons