JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday launched a new state-owned holding entity for the defense sector as Jakarta aims to reduce its level of foreign dependence in the procurement of weapons and equipment.
State-owned electronics equipment manufacturer LEN Industri has been appointed as Indonesia's new defense industry holding entity with a new name: Defense Industry Indonesia, or Defend ID. It oversees four other state-owned companies in related sectors. They are shipbuilder PAL Indonesia, aircraft maker Dirgantara Indonesia, explosives producer Dahana and tank and weaponry manufacturer Pindad.
