NEPAD - the new partnership for Africa's development - outlines the need for African states to pool and co-ordinate their strengths. This applies directly to the defence sector where all are working towards a common defence policy and and industry to support it. This includes the need for defence forces to participate in resource and disaster management.

"We need to build a capacity for defence and civil authorities to co-operate", defence minister of South Africa, Mr. Mosiuoa Lekota, said today at the official opening of the AAD 2002 exhibition. ''The recent founding of the African Union and the holding of the World Summit on Sustainable Development has produced challenges for all of us. Everyone accepts that sustainable development relies on peace and security and that defence forces are central to preserving peace and security."

According to Lekota Africa is currently facing many challenges in illiteracy, sickness and a lack of food. "In the post cold war period governments everywhere have been cutting back on military spending in an attempt to boost financing for socio economic problems and improvement of the lives of their people. "This means that defence related industries, especially those based in Africa, must find innovative and cost efficient solutions to our equipment to meet security needs.

"At the same time it is incumbent on industry and defence forces not to seek solutions that are shoddy and inferior, or that can lead to irreversible environmental damage. "Air power remains a critical component of modern warfare even though it is insufficient on its own. Aerospace straddles civil and military aviation. AAD 2002 emphasises the overlap between civil and defence applications of aviation and aerospace technology.

"By showing the full spectrum of the defence industry at the show it gives the industry the opportunity to continue fighting the myth that defence is a monster and its weapons only its claws by which it destroys." According to Lekota the South African Government considers its defence related industries as national assets.

"The industry is a reservoir of high technology, incredible innovation and operates in a rigorous yet sensible regulated environment. Without it we would be unable to provide our soldiers with the very best equipment that we can afford, to make sure that when asked to do duty in support of peace, members of our defence force do so with the confidence that they have the best tools to make peace as well as the best protection at our disposal."

Lekota said it was encouraging to note how much bigger the show is this year than in previous years. Twice the number of foreign delegations - some 87 in total - are attending than two years ago, bigger floor space has been booked and an additional public day was added due to popular demand.

With acknowledgements to Erika Gibson and www.africa-aerospace2002.com.