Exploring opportunities in the defence sector

Defence is a priority for South African trade outlook

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Trade Industry and Competition (DTIC) supported a National Pavilion at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Turkey to showcase the country’s capacity for supporting the global defence sector, which has been identified as a priority industry.

With Turkey seen as an important market, the DTIC selected 13 companies to participate in the pavilion after advertising the opportunity on their website and to members of the South African Aerospace Maritime and Defence Export Council (SAAMDEC).

Companies, predominantly from Gauteng, were selected according to criteria listed for compliance to Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme rules as well as their alignment to the focus sector of the pavilion.

Participants incorporated several notable government entities such as Armscor, AMD and CSIR, as well as private companies such as FIMMTech, Imperial Armour, QP Dronetech, SVI Engineering, Swatek Defence and Aerospace, Unipro Protective Wear, Zebra Armour, Bullet Proofing Technology, Kimona Holdings and Redeployable Camp System.

With most of the companies focused on land-related solutions and products, it is disappointing that the maritime sector did not take advantage of joining the line-up. The fast-craft and workboat industry in the country as well as the larger shipyards would have done well to have been included in the showcase of South African defence solutions.

Apart from the government entities at the show, the only company with a maritime listed interest appears to have been FIMMTech – an engineering service company that offers maritime combat systems, anti-air warfare and submarine warfare systems.