South African Security Tycoon Ivor Ichikowitz on How Defence Effectiveness Drives Economic Stability
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/ Lists / #BigBusiness MAY 1, 2018 @ 10:12 AM 573 Free Webcast: Investing In Bitcoin & Crypto Assets South African Security Tycoon Ivor Ichikowitz On How Defence Effectiveness Drives Economic Stability Mfonobong Nsehe , CONTRIBUTOR I chronicle Africa's success stories and track its richest people FULL BIO Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The United States has recently launched an investigation surveying the contemporary military footprint of China in Africa, the latter, well-entrenched superpower hosting a firm grip on world trade. With a decorated career in the ever-evolving world of defence and security, the Founder and Executive Chairman of Paramount Group, South African businessman Ivor Ichikowitz, has first-hand knowledge of not only the impetus for enhanced American involvement in Africa's unbridled ascendance, but hosts compelling plans for Africa's autonomous industrialization through the defence industry, a model he believes to be applicable on a global scale. Ichikowitz, recently named as one of Africa's '100 Most Influential People' by New African Magazine, continues to demonstrate commitment and determination to the continent’s industrialization, not dissimilar from what he has showcased in scaling Paramount Group to achieve dynamic, multinational success. Paramount Group was founded in 1994, following the demise of apartheid and at the genesis of the Rainbow Nation’s transition to democracy. From developing and deploying cutting edge defence and security solutions meeting Africa’s regionally-diverse challenges, Ichikowitz’s leadership has enabled Paramount Group to be transformed into what is today a global enterprise, comprised of over three thousand employees, working with sovereign Ivor Ichikowitz governments across five continents, Ivor Ichikowitz with manufacturing facilities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I recently caught up with him in Johannesburg where we talked about the exceptional opportunities for next generation industrialization alongside America's prospects at achieving success in partnership on the African continent. Firstly, tell us about the correlation between defence and security and economic stability and growth… The world goes through cycles. Those cycles tend to be economically driven, politically driven and typically periods of political or economic uncertainty drive periods of significant threats to democracies and to the very core of civilization. / Lists / #BigBusiness MAY 1, 2018 @ 10:12 AM 573 Free Webcast: Investing In Bitcoin & Crypto Assets South African Security Tycoon Ivor Ichikowitz On How Defence Effectiveness Drives Economic Stability Mfonobong Nsehe , CONTRIBUTOR I chronicle Africa's success stories and track its richest people FULL BIO Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Continued from page 1 We are currently in a period of extreme uncertainty; a period of shifting allegiances, realigning alliances and a reopening of a historical conflict between east and west. Many countries, especially in the developing world, are experiencing such extreme uncertainty and with it comes instability and insecurity both internally and externally. The world is also experiencing for the first time asymmetrical threats to security, something that’s been largely until this point ring-fenced to the so-called developed world. Sovereign states are now dealing with fundamentalist movements and are at war with ideologies, as opposed to historically under threat by those looking to capture land and pursue economic gain. As a result of these evolving trends, governments are forced to think differently about defence and security. At the heart of any government’s ability to protect sovereignty and maintain a stable environment for economic activity and investment is a fundamental desire to have its own defence industrial capability, what we have foreseen for many years. Governments want to control their own destiny as opposed to having it dictated to them. This is why we have styled Paramount as an organization capable to support sovereign states in the rapid development of indigenous, industrial defence capabilities. From our proud heritage and vantage point of Africa, tackling the regionally diverse challenges that comprise it has put us in a strong position to deliver in the defence environment, not only in the developing world but also in the developed. Traditionally, Africa has been a net consumer of the developed world’s technologies in the defence environment. We have been able to break that mould and have manufactured world beating technologies in Africa which bear huge relevance to the developed world and have been able to manufacture customized equipment and concepts of operation which are ideally suited to the kinds of non-conventional warfare most of the world finds itself faced with today. We as a continent were once an importer; now we serve as an innovator and exporter. We proudly bring next-generation, customized and localized solutions to the table for our partners, so as to ensure sovereignty is maintained alongside and aligned with economic trajectory; to counter threats and in doing do, aid not just the peace effort, but industrialization, economic development in all its forms. / Lists / #BigBusiness MAY 1, 2018 @ 10:12 AM 573 Free Webcast: Investing In Bitcoin & Crypto Assets South African Security Tycoon Ivor Ichikowitz On How Defence Effectiveness Drives Economic Stability Mfonobong Nsehe , CONTRIBUTOR I chronicle Africa's success stories and track its richest people FULL BIO Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Continued from page 2 How does Paramount Group collaborate with sovereign governments in providing defence and security solutions? Paramount Group works side by side with sovereign governments around the world in enhancing our partners’ defence and security intelligence and capabilities. We do so all the while serving as a proud symbol of Africa’s contemporary technological stewardship and future potential. Paramount owns most of its own technologies and within the confines of the legal framework in which it operates, we are prepared to utilize those technologies as the basis for the development of defence industrial capabilities in our customer countries, accomplished through long term partnerships with sovereign governments. Often, we work with these governments to enhance our intellectual properties and to then develop products which are customized for that country’s operational requirements. No two countries ever have the same operational requirements. We pride ourselves on developing highly customizable systems designed with flexibility in mind. We are also unique in that we are quite happy to work with large and small customers on the same basis. Through being innovative, creative and by enhancing the art of the possible, Paramount is as comfortable working with the most sophisticated in the developed world, as it is collaborating with the smallest in the developing. I’ll add that we at Paramount, as leading actors within defence and aerospace, serve as drivers of economic growth and the innovation culture of any country that embraces the industry. And the defence and aerospace industry is typically the incubator for some of the most important technologies that have impacted society in the last century, not only in the security sphere, but in environmental conservation, encryption technologies found within the banking industry and financial services sector (of which South Africa is so too a world leader). Any country that invests in defence or aerospace is nurturing and investing in an innovation culture. Countries without a developed aerospace defence sector, tend to lack the skills and resources required to participate in the global technology revolution. These are the countries that will sadly stay in the third world. So, there is inherent social footprint in your defence and security solutions? No question. It’s an onus of responsibility I take very seriously. / Lists / #BigBusiness MAY 1, 2018 @ 10:12 AM 573 Free Webcast: Investing In Bitcoin & Crypto Assets South African Security Tycoon Ivor Ichikowitz On How Defence Effectiveness Drives Economic Stability Mfonobong Nsehe , CONTRIBUTOR I chronicle Africa's success stories and track its richest people FULL BIO Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Continued from page 3 Having had the privilege of being brought up in Africa at a time of seismic change, having participated in South Africa’s transition to democracy which brought about a social, political and economic revolution, we’ve always seen our involvement in the defence and aerospace industry as being much more important than just the economic component. Our motivations are driven by a real mandate – To develop a business that will make a material impact to help governments innovate through infrastructure, protect sovereignty and the assets of their people. As we near 25 years of operation, the continent has seen significant successes, while the number of conflicts has diminished significantly. Due to a resurgence of fundamentalism and terrorist-related activity, conflict is unacceptably high, but today, most African governments have the ability to manage many of their own defence and security issues. This fact has taken a big load off developed economies who were previously forced to intervene, to help and support their allies in the developing world. In addition to that, I believe that the best way to resolve conflict is through