TRANSFORMING FORCES THROUGH DEFENCE PROCUREMENT

Defence procurement agencies need to act as "transformation agents" and help optimise budgetary limitations.

Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said this in his keynote address at the inaugural International Defence Procurement Conference (IDPC) 2008.

Dr Ng, who is also Minister for Manpower, also advocated the framework of a "defence eco-system" - a symbiosis between commercial partners, procurement agencies, and military end-users.

Citing local examples such as the cooperation between the defence vendors, Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Dr Ng said that commercial partners should be "brought on board early in the planning stage to conceptualise requirements and provide innovative ideas".

Other speakers, from defence procurement agencies and defence companies, also spoke on topics such as technology acquisition and industries' integration.

The one-day event was held on 18 Feb as one of the official events of the Singapore Airshow 2008.

Some 300 key leaders and delegates from the global defence procurement community attended the IDPC.

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19 Feb 08 - Defence Calls Held in Conjunction with Singapore Airshow 2008

18 Feb 08 - Strong MINDEF Participation at the Inaugural Singapore Airshow

18 Feb 08 - C4I Asia Conference 2008 Keynote Address by LG Desmond Kuek, Chief of Defence Force

18 Feb 08 - Speech by Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, at The International Defence Procurement Conference 2008

18 Feb 08 - Opening Address by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence at The Global Air Power Conference 2008