VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian state-owned train manufacturer -PT INKA exported the first three locomotives and 15 train cars to the Phillipine National Railways (PNR) in the Philippines. President Director of PT INKA, Budi Noviantoro when releasing PNR's order at Jamrud Utara Seaport, Surabaya. East Java on Saturday (12/12) said that PT INKA has sent train products to the Philippines, but this is the first export of locomotive products.

This shipment is the follow-up of a procurement contract worth US$26 million signed on May 28 2018 by PNR General Manager, Junn B Magno and President Director Budi Noviantoro in Manila, the Philippines.

Budi Noviantoro further said that the shipment also followed the previous export of two diesel multiple unit train sets worth US$9.7 million in December 2019. In February 2020, PT INKA also exported four DMU train sets worth US$21.4 million.

According to Budi Noviantoro, the locomotive export to the Philippines this time was an implementation of the BUMN (State-owned Enterprises) Go Global program. It also proves the existence of PT INKA through train product export and the continuity of Indonesain-owned companies amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Director General for Metal, Machinery, Transportation, and Electronics Industry at the Industry Ministry, Taufiek Bawazier encouraged PT INKA to further strengthen its innovation, from digitalization to artificial intelligence. Therefore, PT INKA can compete with other railway industries abroad, especially in ASEAN. Indonesia will be a new power, especially in ASEAN.

Taufiek Bawazier also reminded there are some market segments still open and penetrable by PT INKA's products, such as in Africa and Central Asia, or other difficult markets. According to him, to answer this challenge, it requires manpower. This means that the prepared human resources must be trained in producing PT INKA's products in the future.