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hifting its reliance from traditional products and the domestic market, state-owned land systems and weapons maker PT Pindad seeks to boost sales of industrial machinery and expand its export market to increase profits.

Last year, sales of industrial machinery only contributed 25 percent to the firm’s total revenue of Rp 2 trillion (US$150 million), while the majority was still derived from sales of weapons, ammunition and special vehicles for the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police, the Finance Ministry’s Directorate General of Customs and Excise and Law and the Human Rights Ministry.

This year, Pindad targets to raise its share of industrial machinery sales to 30 percent, particularly with the introduction of three new agriculture equipment, Pindad director of business and industrial products, Bobby Sumardiat Atmosudirjo, said Tuesday.

The equipment includes a Rp 1 billion multipurpose tractor, a rotavator, as well as a seed planting and harvesting machine priced at Rp 500 million each.

“Apart from utilizing excess production capacity, the defense industry usually has the advantage of mastering science and technology that can be applied to other industries,” Bobby said at Pindad’s plant in Bandung.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is set to officially launch Pindad’s new agricultural machinery by mid-year in Aceh.

Initially, Pindad planned to produce 50 units for each type of agricultural equipment this year. The sales scheme will be disccussed with the Agricultural Ministry as its main buyer.

“The purpose is to help the country increase production of corn and soybeans so the country can become self-sufficient in food [production] in the future,” Bobby said.

Pindad projects its revenue to nearly double from last year’s Rp 2 trillion to Rp 3.9 trillion this year on the back of higher demand for weapons and ammunition from local defense systems and securitys as well as bigger sales generated from other business lines.

It also aims to raise its net profit exponentially by 275 percent to Rp 150 billion this year from Rp 40 billion in the past year.

Widening its export market is also on top of Pindad’s business priority this year. Last year, overseas sales only represented 5 percent of its revenue. Pindad targets to ship its products to several countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa, which have expressed interest in the company’s products, it claims.

Egypt, for example, is keen on purchasing a tank boat called the Antasena, which was introduced to international buyers through last year’s Indo Defense Expo and Forum, according to Pindad corporate secretary Bayu Fiantoro.

“Representatives from Egypt have come here [Bandung] to learn about the Antasena,” he said.

The Antasena tank boat was co-jointly built by local company Lundin Industri Invest and CMI Defense from Belgium.

Measuring 18 meters in length, the vessel can operate in shallow waters of up to 90 cm. It travels at speeds of up to 40 knots, with a cruising range of 400 nautical miles.

Pindad currently operates two factories in Bandung and Malang, East Java. Built on a 66-hectare area, the Bandung factory manufactures special vehicles, weapons and industrial products. Meanwhile, the Malang factory, which is larger in size and situated on 166 ha of land, produces ammunition and explosives.