Delegations from Brazil and India have arrived in South Africa to undertake a week-long study tour of South Africa’s defence industry capability.
The purpose of the combined visit is to explore and identify specific potential areas of cooperation in the fields of military science, technology and in the defence industries among the IBSA (India, Brazil and South Africa) countries for the medium and longer term, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) said. During 2012, visits took place to India and Brazil and the visit to South Africa in November is the last of the three with the aim to provide extensive exposure to South African defence industries.
The Joint Defence Group is a result of an IBSA Memorandum of Understanding on Trilateral Cooperation in Science, Technology and Innovation entered into in 2010.
The South African host to the visit is the Department of Defence, with Antonie Visser, Chief Defence Matériel Division, serving as head of Mission and head of the South African delegation. He is supported by the CSIR in the Secretariat role. The Indian and Brazilian delegations include high-ranking officers and counterparts in defence and defence matériel, the army, navy and air force.
Outside of trilateral projects, identification of bi-lateral opportunities for cooperation is a secondary objective of the visit.
The delegations will participate in industry panel discussions and visit facilities in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The IBSA Dialogue Forum provides South Africa, India and Brazil with a platform to engage in discussions for cooperation in the field of agriculture, trade, culture, and defence, among others.
