Bogor – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his desire for the Indonesian and Turkish defence industries to co-produce defence equipment.

This was conveyed by Prabowo during a High Level Strategic Cooperation Meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Wednesday (12/2).

‘We also ask for your honourable support because we want to have joint ventures with several Turkish companies,’ Prabowo said.

‘And we want joint production with the defence industry,’ he continued.

Prabowo said that currently, some of the cooperation that has been established between Indonesia and Turkey in the defence sector has involved defence industries such as Roketsan, Aselsan, Havelsan, and Baykar.

On that occasion, Prabowo was also optimistic that trade between Indonesia and Turkey will continue to increase even though until now Indonesia and Turkey do not have a trade agreement. Prabowo also encouraged that the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) trade agreement between the two countries should be finalised, to strengthen the economies of the two countries.

‘I also request that our respective trade be mutually beneficial. Currently, the cost of entry for our goods is still quite high. But I believe between the Trade Ministers these things can be resolved,’ Prabowo said.