Eurocopter sets up subsidiary in Indonesia

Eurocopter, a division of aerospace and defence major EADS, has announced the creation of a new fully-owned subsidiary, Eurocopter Indonesia.

Eurocopter, which made the announcement at the IndoDefence 2008, said the  move is in line with its strategy to be a multi-local player with its own facilities in all its key markets.

The setting-up of Eurocopter Indonesia, would bring the number of subsidiaries of the pan-European group to a total of 18 worldwide and improve the group's presence in Asia-Pacific, where it currently has 6 subsidiaries in Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore.

Eurocopter has been present in Indonesia for over 30 years through a partnership with PTDI, which began in 1976, with the licensed manufacturing of 118 BO 105 helicopters. The cooperation was followed in the 1980s by a full licensed production of 11 Puma SA330 and 19 Super Puma AS332 helicopters.

In October 2008, Eurocopter and PTDI signed once again a partnership agreement, which aims to set up a local assembly line for the manufacturing of Super Puma MK helicopter airframes.

Based in Jakarta, the subsidiary will have 70–100 employees by end of 2009. The subsidiary has been given charge of all sales and customer support activities in Indonesia, in cooperation with PTDI for the governmental operators.