UK industry looks to expand defence and security co-operation in Africa

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With the mission of helping UK defence and security companies succeed internationally, the Department for International Trade Defence & Security Organisation (DIT DSO) has returned to exhibit at the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition.

The DSO focuses on building, maintaining and developing relationships with overseas governments.

As they believe the UK’s defence and security industries continue to be at the forefront of research, design, manufacture and support, the DSO works with industry to ensure UK equipment, products and services are promoted.

At the previous AAD, the DSO wanted to establish what opportunities there were for the UK in the market. Coming with a theme of partnership, they met with various South African companies, including Denel, Paramount and ECM Technologies. These talks were mainly in the fields of border and maritime security, land systems and communication.

Sophie Lane, DIT DSO Regional Director for the Gulf and Africa, told defenceWeb that as a result of their work at AAD in 2014, a number of UK companies had signed agreements or memorandums of understanding with South African companies.

The number of UK companies exhibiting at South African stands is a complete change to the previous exhibition.

Lane says there are a lot of in-depth discussions as to how UK companies can support South African capabilities, including for export across the region.

Continuing, Lane noted they have had “really good discussions” with both Armscor and the South African Department of Defence as to how they can work closely together.

This, Lane enthused, “is quite an exciting story for us.”

Activities include a number of ship visits which hosted UK capabilities, as well as a Security Mission in May this year where a number of UK companies cam to South Africa to speak about border security, communications and sensors.

This allowed them to show what technology the UK had which they could share, as well as how they could compliment South African technology, building a better capability.

Another benefit is that accredited South African companies now have direct access to UK programs and tenders.

The DSO is looking at increasing the tempo in supporting the agreements and memorandums of understanding which are already in place and increase the amount of business-to-business interaction.

UK companies represented total 27, an increase from two years previously. Many of these are hosted at the Denel, Paramount and ECM Technologies stands, as well as the DSO stand.
“That really is a sign of our success,” Lane said, “We wanted to create the partnership and alliances, allowing businesses to work together.”

As for the rest of Africa, Lane says that in the last twelve months, they’ve interacted with Kenya, Nigeria, Botswana, Angola, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco.

This includes understanding the capabilities required and how the two countries can work together. Many of these countries want local production and increased technology. Other discussions with Armscor include the possibility of procuring and to be a representative across the region.

The cyber security sector is also receiving increasing interest.

Noting that trade between SA and the UK was roughly GBP10 billion annually, British High Commissioners to South Africa, Dame Judith Macgregor, told defenceWeb that the activities of the DSO was part of the broader UK trade and investment promotions in South Africa.
“Defence and security has been an area of considerable interest on both sides,” she said, “It is part of our broader work.”

Apart from those companies exhibiting at South African stands, some of the other companies include global satellite and communication provider Inmarsat, research and advisory firm QinetiQ, mobility solution company Horstman and tactical military bridge supplier WFEL.