Thongloun Sisoulith (Reuters/Sputnik/Alexander Astafyev)

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos is looking to shop for arms in Indonesia as he attends the 32nd Indonesian Trade Expo in Jakarta, a trade official has revealed.

The Laotian leader arrives on Wednesday, when he will meet with Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita in a courtesy call before the latter shows off a number of state-owned companies looking to make a sale.

Sisoulith is expected to shop around for products made by local strategic industry manufacturers PT Pindad and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI), as well as other sector players like PT Pupuk Kujang and PT Pertamina, the Trade Ministry’s secretary-general for exports development, Ari Satria, told The Jakarta Post.

“[The Lao prime minister] will only be taking a look at our stands at the expo and attend a Lao business forum at the Grand Hyatt [hotel] before making the return flight,” he said on Tuesday.

It is unlikely that any deals will be sealed at the expo, Ari insisted, although a government-to-government agreement may possibly be signed during the Oct. 12 business forum.

Last month, reports surfaced that one of Indonesia’s defense companies had caught the interest of the Laotian government. Pindad, DI and others have recently gunned for more sales of their defense products to regional partners like Laos.

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