Jakarta. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said Thursday that the Philippines was a satisfied customer of the defense equipment supplied by Indonesian state-owned enterprises.

The Philippines has bought warships made by state-run shipbuilder PAL over the past years. The state-owned aerospace company Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) has also received orders from the Philippines National Defense Department. Amid repeated purchases, Jokowi wrapped up his Manila trip with some talks with Filipino Defense Secretary Gilberto Eduardo Gerardo C Teodoro Jr.

“The Philippine defense secretary told me that Indonesian defense equipment was trustworthy and satisfactory. For instance, PTDI’s light aircraft and PAL’s warships,” Jokowi said in a recorded statement, shortly after the meeting.

“If we manage our [defense] state-owned enterprises well and transparently, I believe they can compete on a global level. But I hope [they don’t only export their products] to the Philippines, but also seek other countries,” Jokowi said.

According to Jokowi, both countries can strengthen the existing cooperation, among others, through the Philippine Navy's plans to acquire anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Indonesia also offered the Philippines PTDI's CN2335-220 aircraft which could be configured for anti-submarine warfare missions.

Last August, PAL began the construction of the Philippine Navy’s landing ships which would be 124-meter long. This was the first unit out of the two landing dock ships that the Philippines had ordered in the said contract. PAL previously made two landing docks for the Philippines back in 2016 and 2017.

PTDI last year signed a contract to supply six more NC212i light lift fixed-wing aircraft as well as its spare parts for the Philippine Air Force. PTDI also secured a contract for the maintenance of the NC212i aircraft that the Philippines had bought from the Indonesian company earlier.

Jokowi is now en route to Vietnam for another series of trade-related talks. Brunei Darussalam will be his third and final stop on this ASEAN tour. He will attend Brunei Prince Abdul Mateen’s wedding. He will be back in Indonesia by this weekend.