Main headlines from this issue

“Jordan is fortunate in having no offset agreements”

Jordan’s King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) does not have access to offset agreements and, it seems, doesn’t want any. The KADDB, which reports directly to the King of Jordan, provides scientific and technical services to the Jordanian Armed Forces, and aims to help the country create a sustainable industrial base to complement civilian applications of defence technology...

US Interagency team’s lack of progress report

The US Department of Defence’s Inter-Agency Working Group (IaWG) suggested in its 2007 annual report that further discussions on offsets will be forthcoming. No talks have been held this year and none have been arranged so far. The group consults with foreign nations on ‘Limiting the Adverse Effects of Offsets in Defence Procurement.’...

Three-pronged offensive to boost India’s defence sector

India’s Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Assocham) has demanded that the Defence Offsets Facilitation Agency (DOFA) be empowered as a regulator for armament purchases. It’s also calling for DOFA, which works under the patronage of the Defence Ministry, to be expanded to include leading members of Indian industry.

Britain agrees that offsets should be dropped

Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, declared that the government agrees that offsets can distort the functioning of markets and therefore should ultimately be dispensed with. Then he back-tracked...