How security can boost trade across Africa

...as Shield Africa exhibition debuts in Ivory Coast

The Ivorian capital, Abidjan, will play host for three days, beginning from today, to security stakeholders from various African countries as part of the fifth edition of the Shield Africa, an international security and defence exhibition.

The event, which holds at Ecole de Police d’abidjan, is being organised by COGES Africa, an Ivorien company and sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and Security of Cote d’ivoire. It is meant to unveil how security and defence can play a role in trade across Africa.

A statement from the organisers noted that SHIELDAFRICA has remained Africa’s security and defence event of reference that offers land-sea-air solutions to protect Africa’s development, ensure necessary security to economic development, restore or maintain peace in order to prevent and combat natural and industrial disasters. The exhibition also helps to ensure the safety of cities to develop necessary services for public institutions and private bodies.

As a fast emerging event that focuses on excellence, public and private sector security and defence actors from all over the Africa are meeting at the show to connect with industry players from all over the world offering equipment, services and innovative solutions, tailored to their needs.

Coming with the theme, ‘ Secured and Controlled Land, Sea & Air Borders, Conditions for the Development of Africa’, the exhibition pledges to stoke high-level discourse on border-related issues with respect to the sovereign challenge on economic wealth.

Organisers of the threeday event, in a statement, pointed out that a strong Africa in a globalised world requires open borders that are safe and controlled by modern technologies and proven equipment.

It is hoped that secure land, sea and air borders must remain dynamic areas of exchange allowing safer mobility of people and the transit of goods.

Border control is one of the issues of national and international security. It requires modern and efficient African customs administration and dynamic effective regional cooperation structures between countries, the organisers say

This edition is expected to address the multiple security needs of the continent with a special focus on border security.