Exhibitors from the defence and security industry, half of which were from the UK, promoted their products and services at London's ExCeL Centre last week at the world's largest defence and security event.

 

Through seminars and on-the-ground support, the Directorate of Exports and Commercial Strategy (DECS) was able to show how MOD is supporting industry.

 

Director General Exports, Susanna Mason, spoke positively about MOD's contribution:

 

"DSEI allowed us to show the variety of work we do to support the defence and security industry. Following the successful launch of the Defence Growth Partnership's Strategic Vision, Securing Prosperity, on 9 September, my senior team were able to set out how we are developing international acquisition policy, promoting exports and the exportability of defence equipment and services, and how we are looking to protect the Technology Advantage of the UK Armed Forces."

 

At the 4-day event, Valerie Evans, Head of the International Relations Group, spoke about the UK/US Trade Cooperation Treaty, the MOD's approach to multinational acquisition, NATO Smart Defence and European Defence Agency Pooling and Sharing.

 

She explained MOD's work to promote foreign investment in the UK defence and security sector through the Defence and Security Industrial Engagement Policy (DSIEP). The DSIEP aims to help attract business to the UK in order to stimulate growth, including by promoting the role of UK small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

 

The success of the programme was later demonstrated by Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology's announcement that Rheinmetall is the most recent company to sign up to the DSIEP.

 

The responsibilities of industry and government in building for export was addressed by Tim McDonnell, Head of Export Policy. Presenting to a growing audience of SMEs in attendance at this year's DSEI, he described MOD's work in helping more and more UK companies export their products and services. His team develops MOD's policy on exports and ensures effective co-ordination of MOD support to UK Trade and Industry in defence exports.

 
Paul Hamilton, Head of Industrial Policy, explained the UK's approach to defence and security procurement, and in particular how, whilst maximising open competition in the domestic and global market to achieve best value for money, MOD is looking to identify and protect those aspects of capability which underpin our Freedom of Action and Operational Advantage, where essential to our national security.

 

For further information on the work of these teams, please visit the DECS team site – see Related Links.