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RI, Laos explore stronger defense cooperation
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Modern technology – Foreign technicians disembark from the Navy's KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332 at the shipyard of state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL Indonesia in Surabaya, East Java, on Nov.8. PT PAL is building the frigate in conjunction with Netherlands-based Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS). It is expected that construction of the ship will finish in October 2017. (Antara/Irfan Anshori)
I
ndonesia is sounding out the possibility of tapping into the potential of Laos, which currently relies on other countries to develop its weapons systems, in a bid to continue to improve the country’s defense industry.
Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu presented an offer to his Laotian counterpart, National Defense Minister Chansamone Chanyalath, during a meeting at the Laos Defense Ministry in Vientiane on Tuesday. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat.
“The Indonesian Defense Ministry is ready to connect you with Indonesian defense companies if Laos is interested,” said Ryamizard.
To complete Indonesia-Laos defense cooperation, he said, Indonesia was also ready to expand collaboration in the field of defense education and training between the two countries.
“We need to intensify and improve our collaboration on education,” Ryamizard said. “Indonesia is basically open to welcoming military students from Laos to study at our staff and command schools.”
Indonesia does not currently engage in any defense cooperation with Laos except in the field of education and training. Ryamizard’s proposal on the supplying of defense equipment for Laos, if it is realized, will mark the first collaboration between the two countries in this respect. (ebf)
