SA defence industry needs investment - 23 Oct 2012

SA's arms industry is highly developed, but more investment is needed to keep SA in the technology race if it is to remain competitive. Not only can the sector be a far bigger foreign-exchange earner, but it can also be a far bigger generator of skills and jobs.

Some of us might sometimes think of the agricultural sector as one in which technology is used in farm machinery, some farm operations, and not much else. Wrong! The sector, in fact, is evermore technology "savvy" and now agriculture is sparking the creative talents of developers.

SA has entered the war on piracy, and now there has been a large order for an SA-designed VPS Anti-piracy device. South African company Vessel Protection Systems (VPS) has won a large order to supply commercial charterers with more than 90 anti-pirate devices invented and perfected by VPS in Cape Town.

South African Airways has plans for new investments, so the government guarantee for SAA is "not a bail-out", or so the cash-strapped airline's annual general meeting heard last week.