It is a singular pleasure to host you at this, the sixth African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition.
Since its inception, the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition has grown in leaps and bounds. It has established itself as a major platform for South Africa’s defence industry and other international industries to showcase their best innovation and technology in the defence industry. It is the largest defence show of air, land and sea in the African continent , attracting also the most advanced defence technologies beyond the continent. Each year brings in an increased number of participants and today we boast more than 300 exhibitors representing the world’s major defence corporations.
I would like to commend and congratulate the aviation sector for their unstinting efforts over many years to promote South Africa’s aerospace industry and capabilities. The aviation industry laid a solid foundation for the success of the AAD you and I know today.
Minister Barbara Hogan welcomed you on my behalf and on behalf of the South African Government and the feedback I received is that the African Aerospace and Defence Exhibition is off to an unbelievable start. I have been informed that the AAD 2010 stands at record figures not only with regard to exhibiting companies, but also with professional trade visitors, and that all the available exhibition space was booked up months in advance.
We meet at an auspicious time in our country. At a time when the ruling party meets in Durban at its mid-term conference to assess how far we as a government have come in our delivery on our promises to our people for a better live, underpinned by strong economic growth. For us in the Department of Defence there could be no clearer indication of our delivery capacity than the display we have put together today.
We are moving towards a closer relationship between the Department of Defence and the defence industries to ensure greater support and synchrony between the State and the private sector. In this way we can only move to greater heights of productivity.
We hope from this enhanced position we can better represent what is possible in Africa. Greater opportunities are opening up for us as Africa and we intend to use our collective power to ensure we advance the interests of the continent.
This year is auspicious also because it marks the first time we have been able to coordinate international exercises with the show, marking it as the most advanced representations we could have mustered. I would like to congratulate the organisers of Exercise IBSAMAR, which, by all accounts were a great success.
The AAD serves the interests of both the civilian and military sectors. It represents a flourishing partnership between South Africa’s Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industry Association (AMD), the Commercial Aviation Association of Southern Africa (CAASA) and Armscor, with the full participation of the Department of Defence and as a patron.
It provides a platform for South Africa’s defence industry to identify and make the most of business opportunities within our country and abroad. Exposure to cutting edge technology helps us in our quest for technology transfer. The by-product is the building of skills, innovative capacity and productivity of the South African defence industry.
For our part, we will at all times communicate very clearly, while we would like the defence industry to remain focused on need-driven developments. The industry must respond to the global trend toward the internationalisation of defence production. Weapon systems are increasingly being developed collaboratively across national boundaries and the ability to independently produce a main weapon system is becoming the exception rather than the rule.
This inevitable development impacts on the domestic Defence Industry. Both the DoD and the relevant Defence Industries have to accept that, with the exception of military strategic issues of importance and the niche technology and equipment, independence has been supplanted by interdependence, co-operation and collaboration.
With regard to issues of strategic importance, we will continue to prioritise technologies and capabilities that enable us to make choices within the context of socio-economic realities. It is for this reason that International Strategic Partnerships are being pursued for South African Defence Industries to ensure sustainability and future market penetration, understanding that for us, with a huge burden to deliver on essential services, affordability is central.
The armament acquisition approach is designed to achieve a balance between local partnerships and foreign acquisition initiatives - leveraging affordability, economies of scale, unit costs, and military strategic essentiality in deciding which of the three approaches to follow.
When it comes to strategic capabilities there are no shortcuts. We take our obligations very seriously. We don’t outsource responsibility on development. Hence our insistence on 100% local industrial base development to produce the required technological capability and capacity. We will continue to explore and to enter into partnerships with others for non-strategic defence capabilities. This includes a consideration of 100% foreign acquisition available in the international market.
It is worth noting, with appreciation, that the global financial crisis has not dented the interest for the event. I have also been reliably informed that AAD 2010 has attracted some of the world’s biggest names in aerospace and defence that are keen to do business with us. This year, we are hosting no less than seven national pavilions, three of which are here for the very first time: Turkey, China and the USA. We welcome you here.
I can only assume these major corporations and countries see AAD 2010 as a suitable vehicle to get their order books in good shape. Clearly the importance of this exhibition is unquestionable. We should use this platform to share and exchange with other militaries the latest technology and trends in the defence industries. I am exceedingly proud of what we see here today.
I am proud of the South African industry that has always been at the forefront of producing innovative products, some of which have been exported to major countries around the world. The economic benefits of investing in research and development in the defence environment extend to the region as a whole.
It is precisely because of these reasons, that the aerospace industry has become a high priority sector. We envisage that it will follow on a growth and consolidation path similar to that of South Africa’s automotive industry. That industry has had phenomenal success. At present, the South African defence industry contributes no less than six percent of the total manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP) in South Africa making it a significant player within the South African economy.
Today we showcase the best of our own technologies, with a great deal of pride. We draw your attention to South African designs of mine-resistant and ambush-protected vehicles, which are among the most competitive military products for international peacekeepers whose job is to make the world a safer place.
Equally, we would like you to take note of the South African developed landmine and battlefield clearance technologies, which have opened up vast tracts of conflict-ridden areas so that indigenous people can return to cultivating their lands, and once again walk pathways and roads without fear of deadly munitions that could maim or kill them and their children.
You will notice I stress the humanitarian aspect of the military business first. This is an exceedingly important part of South Africa’s domestic and foreign policy. We are committed to peace support, humanitarian aid, security and stability for our country, our neighbours and our continent. In fact, we seek peace and stability for the entire world.
In times of natural disasters, South Africa has shown that it could field dependable and cost-effective equipment for humanitarian and search and rescue operations. We were also able to fulfil our obligations to the African Union where regional conflicts needed our peacekeeping support, and in combined operations with the African Union and United Nations. In times like these, our aerospace, maritime and land capabilities depended on proven equipment that has stood the test of operational deployments.
Part of the DoD display at this AAD 2010 is devoted to military medical services. These are often overlooked in the overall exhibition, but they play an increasingly important role in peace support and humanitarian missions. I laud them for the job they do, which they do well, both during conflict and peacetime.
At the sharp end, South African industry has all along held its head high alongside its global counterparts. This includes products ranging from command and control, communications, surveillance and reconnaissance to electronic warfare, missiles, unmanned air vehicles, land vehicles, naval systems, munitions, artillery and aircraft systems - indeed, our defence industry ranks high in the world.
We will be showcasing products that are indigenously conceived, designed, developed, tested and manufactured - and ultimately supported through the entire life cycle. It is a case of taking the products and systems through various stages - from conceptualising the solution to the eventual disposal of such equipment.
This is what we want to convey to our clients. South Africa’s defence industry has an internationally recognised reputation and capacity for innovation, quality and cost-effective solutions and it strives to conduct its business in a professional, transparent and accountable manner.
To conclude, let us use AAD 2010 as a platform for engagement. We want enterprise to grow, we want scientific and technological interaction, we want innovation in our industries and we want our young people to see the potential for careers in aerospace and defence.
I am pleased to note that one of the prominent features of the AAD is the Youth Development Programme (YDP), driven by the AAD partners. I notice approvingly so, that it is also linked to the Defence Force’s own Military Skills Development System (MSDS).
Through these programmes the youth of South Africa gets an opportunity to experience first-hand the high-technology world of aerospace and defence. We hope that this partnership continues to steer our young men and women towards careers in the SANDF/DoD. By introducing young people to careers, particularly in aerospace, a safer transport infrastructure will be developed, especially air transport. This is necessary if we are to expand trade and tourism throughout our region and the world.
Over the next five days let us use this year’s AAD to:
- stimulate enterprise among our respective industries
- build partnerships among our companies
- open doors for our nations to the international aerospace and defence community.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us work together towards achieving these goals, and I would like to wish each one of you a fruitful and enjoyable interaction during the AAD 2010.
Once again, to all our guests from all over the globe, welcome to South Africa! May your stay in our country be memorable and the friendships and partnerships you develop last long.
I thank you.
