Indonesia Offers N219 Aircraft to Micronesia

Bogor, West Java, MINA — Indonesia has offered N219 aircraft to the Federated States of Micronesia to help strengthen inter-island connectivity in the archipelagic state and meet its air transportation needs, Antara News reported, citing President Joko Widodo as saying.

“President Christian will visit the state aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) in Bandung tomorrow,” he informed journalists at a joint press conference with visiting President Peter M. Christian here on Wednesday.

Indonesia and Micronesia share several similarities. They both are Pacific nations and categorized as archipelagic countries, he noted, adding that Indonesia has at least 17 thousand islands, while Micronesia possesses some six hundred islands.

According to PTDI`s official website, N219 Nurtanio is a new generation multi-purpose aircraft equipped with the largest cabin cross section in its class. The aircraft is designed to carry 19 passengers and claimed to be “the most suitable mode of transportation to open isolated areas.”

The products of this state-owned aircraft manufacturer have been used by several countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines. Vietnam`s air force had even received three NC212i aircraft in the first semester of this year.

On June 8, 2018, PTDI had also handed over two NC212i aircraft to the Philippines` air force.

During his visit to Indonesia, President Christian is scheduled to visit Ambon, Maluku Province, as he has ethnic blood ties with the people of Ambon.

“President Christian will visit Ambon. This demonstrates that the two nations indeed have people-to-people relations dating back tens and even hundreds of years,” he pointed out.

For President Christian, Indonesia is no stranger due to his ethnic blood ties with the people of Ambon. He belongs to the third generation of Ambonese in Micronesia, President Widodo remarked. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)