REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BUSAN -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo conducted an inspection of the activities at the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (DSME) shipyard in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday morning.
The president, popularly known as Jokowi, inspected the ship replica exhibition room and received information from the DSME officers.
"The ships are good," Jokowi remarked here on Thursday (11/12).
During the visit, Jokowi was accompanied by several officials such as Economic Coordinating Minister Sofyan Djalil, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi, and Chief of State Intelligence Agency Marciano Norman.
Jokowi lauded the ship-building technology implemented in DSME.
"It is an amazing technology," wrote Jokowi in the DSME guest list.
The DSME is collaborating with PAL Ltd. Co. for developing three submarines, which were ordered by Indonesia, at a total investment of US$250 million.
"Two submarines will be built in South Korea, while another one will be built in Indonesia," Norman remarked.
The Chang Bogo-class submarines are expected to be delivered to Indonesia in 2017 and 2018, which will help to increase Indonesia's naval fleet to five submarines. Currently, Indonesia is operating two submarines that were made in Germany in 1981.
"We need balanced military power," Marciano stated.
Jokowi visited the country to attend the South Korea-ASEAN Summit, which had been established 25 years ago.