Main headlines from this issue

Boeing’s boost to UK employment is “not strictly reportable” under the DSIEP programme

Boeing plans to double its workforce in the UK to 4,000 within a decade. The company, one of the earliest signatories to the Defence and Security Industrial Engagement Policy (DSIEP), was recently awarded two defence contracts in the country. Boeing used the figures supplied in its annual DSIEP report to make the announcement and described the company’s plans for the future.

India stumbles over ‘Strategic Partnerships’ – when committees can’t agree, form another!

India’s Defence Ministry has formed a new internal committee to finalise the Strategic Partnership model after the previous committee failed to agree. The new committee is chaired by the Director General (Acquisition).

India contemplates offset Venture Capital Fund

India’s MoD is reported to have produced a concept note allowing foreign defence companies that have sold equipment to India to invest in Venture Capital Funds (VCFs). The funds would be used to discharge part of their offset obligations. Foreign companies could invest up to 25 percent of their obligations in such funds.

Nigeria tells Samsung to obey local content laws or pay the price

Nigeria’s House of Representatives’ committee on local content has warned international oil and gas services companies, including Samsung Heavy Industries of South Korea, against flouting Nigerian local content laws. Committee Chairman Emmanuel Ekon said the committee would use its legislative instruments to protect indigenous operators in the oil sector and in other sectors too.

POLAND SEEKS CHINESE TECHNOLOGY FOR SPACE CENTRE

Poland’s space agency, POLSA, has signed an agreement with the Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) to cooperate on research and developing new telecoms solutions. The development of space technologies will certainly include discussions on transfers of technology from the Chinese space sector.