Indonesia’s PT Pindad and Ghana’s Ministry of Defence have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) as part of efforts exploring the procurement of weapons and equipment.
The Letter of Intent was signed in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 22 November by the Managing Director of PT Pindad Abraham Mose with the Ghana Ministry of Defence represented by its Chief Director, Dr Evans A Dzikum.
PT Pindad said Ghana “is very interested in defence and industrial products produced by PT Pindad. Ghana’s Defence Minister Dominic BA Nitiwul said he was very interested and committed to buying defence and industrial products produced by Pindad as well as collaborating on joint development of defence products.”
Mose said Pindad was now very ready to support the defence needs of Ghana, and this covers the supply of equipment, establishing maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and after-sales services including training and facilities. The Letter of Intent also covers technology transfer.
Ghana is apparently interested in procuring items including firearms, tactical military vehicles and amphibious vehicles as well as engineering vehicles such as excavators.
“The signing of the LOI is the first step in strategic good relations for both parties. Both commitments are in line with the spirit of the Indonesian government to establish military cooperation with the Government of Ghana,” PT Pindad said.
The day before the Letter of Intent was signed, Nitiwul visited PT Pindad’s production facilities and viewed the Excava Amphibious amphibious excavator, Komodo 4×4 armoured personnel carrier, Anoa 6×6 armoured personnel carrier, and Modern Medium Weight Tank (MMWT).
“For 16 years, bilateral relations between Indonesia and Ghana have been very well established, for this reason this visit was carried out more specifically to find out more about Indonesia’s defence industry,” Nitiwul said.
PT Pindad is expanding its collaboration with Africa, and late last month signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Paramount Group for the local development, industrialisation and joint marketing of armoured vehicle systems for the Indonesian armed forces.
The agreement was signed during the Defence & Security 2019 exhibition in Thailand, which concluded on 21 November. It provides for the development, local industrialisation and joint marketing of next generation armoured vehicle systems, in response to the local requirements of Indonesian armed forces. The agreement would enable local manufacturing through technology and skills transfer, the strengthening of local land systems capability, and the creation of new jobs, Paramount said.
