How South African defence companies are expanding globally at IDEF 2025
Image: File
A group of South African defence sector companies has arrived in Istanbul, Türkiye, aiming to showcase local innovation and forge new global partnerships during the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025.
Taking place from July 22 to 27, IDEF 2025 is one of the world's foremost defence expos, drawing industry leaders from across Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa. South Africa's participation is spearheaded by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) under its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme.
The initiative supports local businesses in accessing international markets and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into South Africa.
Shane George, Senior Manager of Industry Support and Business Development at the Armaments Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd, said the delegation was enthusiastic about the opportunities IDEF 2025 presents.
'In terms of our responsibility of creating and maintaining systems, we are going to be having meetings with some of the international Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM), in looking for solutions and expanding current contracts,' said George.
'We are confident that, by the end of the week, we will have strengthened the bilateral relationships between South Africa and Türkiye, as our critical partner.'
Among the exhibitors is Swatek Defence and Aerospace, which designs and produces cable harnesses and control boxes for military and aviation applications. Its founder, Dr Khulile Mtsetfwa, highlighted the role her company plays in supporting defence innovation.
'South Africa has the capabilities in the military sector, and one of them is the electrical systems that Swatek supplies. We are bringing skills, capabilities and a variety of offerings, one of them being electrical systems for the vehicles,' she said.
Queen Ndlovu, CEO of QP DroneTech, is also part of the delegation. Her company provides commercial drone services geared towards disaster preparedness and climate-related interventions.
'I am looking for potential partners to use our drones and services, and also research and development partners to improve some of the specifications of our drones that we use in climate change and sustainability activities,' she explained.
South Africa has secured a 164m² national pavilion to house its participating companies, providing a platform to showcase defence-related products and services to both existing and potential clients.
IDEF 2025 presents a strategic opportunity for South African innovators to position their offerings within global defence supply chains, particularly as nations increase their focus on advanced technologies and sustainability in defence operations
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