Indonesian national defense forces, Chief General Djoko Santoso officially opened Indo defense and Aerospace one day-seminar 2008 in at the Executive club in Halim Air Force Base Jakarta on Thursday (20/11). The seminar was attended by nearly 160 participants. This seminar was arranged by Air Power Center of Indonesia (APCI) and Department of Defense (DoD) and Napindo Media Ashatama Enterprise. The seminar with a theme of ”Harnessing Defense Technology Capabilities and Improving the Role of Current National Air Transportation” discussed and provided steps to enhance the national development efforts in the future as well as to expose further of Indonesia’s national aviation roles.

The program has outlined the defense aspects and air transport issues in conjunction to the Indo Defense 2008 exhibition. The seminar was aimed to bolster more active role of strategic industries in promoting the sustainability in the defense sector from the fact that the country’s defense industry remain under developed.

As current situation applies within the country’s national air Transport, that the fact, its role and contributions towards national interest, defense sector, and to include its lacking capability to provide safety and reliable service to the public, made the participants gained new perspective to address ways in overcoming these challenges and empowering further the capacity of related government bodies/authorities and industry players.

In his speech, General Djoko said that the development of science and technology has been tremendous; to include the Information technology sector, to the fact that developed countries continues to remain and further apply its influence worldwide. These advancement also promotes further development of warfare technology of which poses serious endangerment to humankind, especially when appropriate control is non-existent.

He further said that Indonesia as a part of regional community feels the impact of those technology advancements. Therefore, it has been tireless efforts implemented by the government and its strategic industries, joint in hands with other agencies and the private sectors national and internationally, to further develop the technology sector enabling Indonesia to speed up its development of its military weaponry system.

Stringent budgeting and insufficient human capital have been the main handicap. “Consequently, the idea of this seminar with theme of Defense and National Aviation issues provide an essential steps to anticipate the handicap”, he explained more.

It was said that national defense is not solely the responsibility of the Department of Defense, however this lies on the shoulder of all Indonesians regardless. Therefore, it is important to realize that it is a shared-responsibility of the people, together hand-in-hand continuously developing our capabilities in science and technology. With sustainability of the national strategic industries, and its internationally recognized achievements, our competitive edge can deliver a new heights of bargaining capacity and capability to respond any potential incoming threats from the outside to the country’s sovereignty.

The expected outcome of the seminar, the chief General Djoko wish to expect that experts, defense analysts and policy makers would provide and deliver a true visions of defense sustainability to strengthen Indonesia’s national strategic industries to achieve and further maintain its internationally recognized level. Thus, continuously contributing to needs of its military development while pursuing expansion to the regional and international defense markets.

”No country can survive alone. There is interdependency among countries as in community. Nevertheless, a reliable and capable national strategic industry to support its military needs internally would ensure Indonesia becoming independent in the weaponry system”, Chief said.

At the inauguration of the seminar, also attended by Minister of Defense Mr Juwono Sudarsono, Transportation Minister Mr Jusman Syafei, Chairman of APCI Air Chief Marshal (ret) Saleh Basarah, Seminar chairman Air-Vice Marshal (ret) Koesnadi Kardi, military & municipal dignitaries and visitors.

Below are some photos of the Expo: