HENSOLDT Analytics, represented by the Chief Visionary Officer, Mark Pfeiffer, took part in the second edition of the biennial International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference, Accra, Ghana, on 6-8 July 2021, to showcase its award-winning technologies to the audience of Africa’s Navies, Air Forces, Coast Guards, Port and Coastal Authorities, Marine Police and related Ministries.
The 2nd International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference (IMDEC) is a gathering of Africa’s maritime industry, during which the regional and international Chiefs of Naval Staff address the principal issues facing maritime security on the African continent. This biennial gathering, which spans two full days of thematic sessions, in-depth panel discussions, breakout sessions and extensive site visits to Ghana’s naval and air bases provides a platform for exchange for regional Armed Forces to discuss the increasingly volatile maritime threats facing Africa’s territorial waters. The 2nd edition of the event welcomed the official partnership with the Ghana Air Force underlining the significance of air-maritime cooperation.
HENSOLDT team, from left to right: Martin Sefzig (Head of Business Development Africa, HENSOLDT South Africa), Mark Pfeiffer (Chief Visionary Officer, HENSOLDT Analytics), Cédric Lorillec (Sales and Product Manager at NEXEYA).
Sharp Rise in Privacy and Armed Robberies in Ghana in 2020
The largest annual gathering co-hosted by the Ghana Navy and the Ghana Air Force comes at a particularly vital moment for Ghana as the maritime trade and export routes have been suffering under the sharp rise in piracy and kidnappings since last year. The situation calls for urgent actions as the African industry is reeling from the global economic shock caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, opened the 2nd edition of the IDEC on Wednesday, the 7th of July, urging countries bordering the Gulf of Guinea and stakeholders in the international maritime industry to collaborate and develop a regional and international framework to address the situation. Speaking to the audience comprising of participants from over 70 countries, including Ghana’s Minister for Defence, Hon Dominic Nitiwul, about 15 Chiefs of Navies and Air Forces, over 30 speakers and exhibitors, the Vice President encouraged a joint approach to draft long term solutions to address the surge in attacks by Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) and increasing incidences of Kidnapping For Ransom.
“As nations seek to readjust and realign themselves in respect of trade, development and economic growth post-COVID-19, coastal states and even land-locked countries have a huge stake in dealing with matters governing maritime security. For one simple reason: whatever measures and strategies put in place to revive economies would largely depend on trade. It is a fact that more than 90 percent of international merchandise is moved by sea. Therefore, international trade cannot be revived without a secure maritime domain”, he pointed out.
HENSOLDT teams – HENSOLDT Analytics, HENSOLDT South Africa, and NEXEYA – featured as one of the international solution providers at the event, able to bring fresh perspectives and years of experience to the table. Hosting a booth at the exhibition site, HENSOLDT Analytics had the opportunity to share its technologies and solutions, exchanging valuable insights, and showcasing real-time OSINT reporting with an interactive demo station.
HENSOLDT in Africa
With the company’s largest operations outside of Europe in Africa, HENSOLDT is proud to call the region ‘home’. From a start-up over 50 years ago, HENSOLDT now has over 600 staff in the region today.
In South Africa, the company designs, manufactures, and sells a variety of highly technical solutions for defense and security applications which are exported around the world. Moreover, HENSOLDT employs a few dozen staff in Algeria for a project there.
HENSOLDT is committed to growing its presence in Africa. It consolidated its two South African subsidiaries, GEW Technologies (Pty) Ltd and HENSOLDT Optronics (Pty) Ltd, under the HENSOLDT brand. This strategic move will better leverage HENSOLDT’s global footprint to open new market opportunities for the company’s South African products, such as jammers, RF direction finders, and gimbals.
To find out more about the HENSOLDT network in Africa, please visit the official website.
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