On 07 March 2025 the Founder and Executive Director of ACCORD, Dr Vasu Gounden, was invited to be a resource person at the Public-Private Partnerships for Defence and Security conference held in Pretoria, South Africa. The conference was hosted by defenceWeb and the South African Aerospace Maritime & Defence Industries Association (AMD).
The theme of this years conference was Strengthening South Africa’s Defence Future: The Power of Public-Private Partnerships
Dr Gounden presented on the panel that looked at the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP’s) in peacekeeping missions. The other panelists included Lt General (Ret) Derrick Mgwebi; Andries Velthuizen (a specialist in conflict, peace and security studies in Africa); and Daniel du Plessis (Marketing and Communications Director and Head of Business Development in Africa at Milkor).
The one-day event brought together influential leaders from government, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the private sector to discuss innovative solutions for strengthening South Africa’s defence and security landscape. Focusing on the critical role of PPPs, the conference aimed to address industry challenges and explore opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and enhanced national security.
Overall the conference aimed to i) strengthen collaboration: encourage deeper cooperation between public and private sectors to leverage resources, innovation, and expertise, bolstering South Africa’s defence sector; ii) enhance national defence: focus on PPP initiatives that modernise the nation’s armed forces and improve overall defence readiness; iii) foster knowledge exchange: provide a forum for sharing insights and best practices through presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities; iv) identify business opportunities: showcase emerging and existing opportunities in the defence sector, providing a platform for businesses to engage in partnerships and explore investment opportunities; v) promote technological advancement: highlight and support the development and integration of cutting-edge technologies in defence operations; vi) support local industry: encourage the growth and participation of local businesses in the defence supply chain, fostering economic development and job creation; vii) enhance policy dialogue: facilitate discussions on regulatory frameworks and policies that can strengthen the defence industry and support public-private collaboration’ and viii) strengthen regional security: explore initiatives and partnerships that enhance regional security cooperation within the SADC region.
Dr Gounden participated in the defenceWeb conference that they held in August 2023 and in 2024 he was invited to deliver a State of the Nation address at the inaugural National Security and Safety Town Hall hosted by AMD.
Exclusive interview with defenceWeb, Dr Vasu Gounden, Founder and Executive Director of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD)
