Cambodia Interested to Purchase Helicopters and Light Weapons from Indonesia

27 Agustus 2024

Fennec light helicopter assembled by PT DI (photo: Penerbad)

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Cambodia is interested in buying several of military equipment produced by Indonesia, said Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, when holding a bilateral meeting with the country to commemorate 65 years of diplomatic relations.

Retno led the bilateral meeting together with Cambodian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea, at the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC) in the capital city of Phnom Penh. This JCBC is the fifth meeting after previously being held in 2018.

Indonesia and Cambodia discussed five major topics, namely political cooperation, defense and security cooperation, economic cooperation, socio-cultural and tourism cooperation, and regional and global issues.

Regarding defense and security cooperation, Retno encouraged strengthening the long-standing partnership, through dialogue, joint exercises, and capacity building.

"In this case, Cambodia expressed interest in buying several of military equipment produced by Indonesia such as helicopters and light weapons," she said in a press statement.

Pindad various small rifles (photo: Pindad)

She then invited the Cambodian side to visit the Indonesian defense industry, such as PT PINDAD and PT Dirgantara Indonesia, and also participate in the Indo Defense Expo & Forum which will be held on November 6-9, 2024.

In addition to defense and security, the two countries also discussed the issue of human trafficking/tindak pidana perdagangan orang (TPPO), especially concerning online fraud or online scams which are increasing. According to government records, the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Phnom Penh has handled 842 online scam cases involving Indonesian citizens.

"To strengthen efforts to combat TPPO, in the meeting, I also encouraged the establishment of a special bilateral mechanism for more effective TPPO prevention," said Retno.

She also expressed the interest and readiness of several Indonesian companies to invest in the food and infrastructure industries in Cambodia, encouraged the finalization of a memorandum of understanding in the field of cultural cooperation, and encouraged joint studies for direct shipping and the opening of direct flight routes between Indonesia and Cambodia.

The trade value between Indonesia and Cambodia reached almost US$1 billion last year. Retno said she and her fellow foreign minister, Sok Chenda Sophea, agreed that the value could still be improved.

In discussing regional and global issues, both pushed for the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus to address the situation in Myanmar and expressed concern over Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip.

(Tempo)