Russia at the Shield Africa 2017 Exhibition
As told by Rosoboronexport, more than 30 official
delegations and representatives of companies from African countries visited the
stand of JSC Rosoboronexport (part of the Rostech State Corporation) during the
Shield Africa 2017 police and gendarmerie armaments and special equipment
exhibition, held in the city of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on January 24-26, 2017.
Exhibition visitors representing armed forces, police and gendarmerie of Cote
d’Ivoire, Angola, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Cameroon, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger,
Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania and other African countries were particularly interested
in the Russian border protection systems, special operations equipment and
dual-purpose vehicles and helicopters used both in law enforcement and emergency
assistance to the civilian population.
Besides, African countries have traditionally shown great interest in Russian
armaments and equipment designed to fight terrorists, pirates, drug trafficking,
illegal fishing, organized crime and riots as well those used to conduct
peacekeeping operations, as African countries are getting increasingly involved
in regional and international peacekeeping missions.
“Rosoboronexport has for the first time held its display at this exhibition as
it reckons on the progressive development of military-technical relations with
Cote d’Ivoire and other regional countries. For decades, our country has been
actively assisting African countries in the establishment and development of
their national armed forces. Today this experience, combined with our partners’
confidence in high efficiency of Russian armaments and the need for a widespread
stepping up of counter-terrorist efforts, is opening up new opportunities for
the increased supply of Russian defense products to the continent”, – said
Deputy Head of Marketing Department Vadim Startsev, who led the Rosoboronexport
delegation.
Despite stiff competition from foreign exporters, Russia is ready for the
implementation of various, including the innovative ones, forms of defense and
security cooperation in Africa, up to the joint development and production of
high-tech military equipment and security system solutions for the third
countries.
The company is actively developing bilateral ties to promote a comprehensive
security system to be utilized in large administrative areas, critical
facilities and state borders. During the Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
presentation held on January 25, 2017, experts of the Rosoboronexport company
briefed the exhibition participants on the latest Russian concept of an integral
customer-tailored security system designed to identify the sources of terrorist
threats and illegal acts, conduct counterterrorist operations, ensure law and
order and protect critical facilities.
The concept covers over 200 types of armaments, special technical assets,
automated control and communications assets, alarm systems and a facility,
perimeter and long boundary protection system. Presentation visitors commended
the broad opportunities offered by the project based on the Russian-built
counter-terrorism systems and assets.