Saridan

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Although other provinces have made significant movements as it relates to their own economic recovery and transformation agendas, for Tasselstaat the process has been more than delayed. Considerable confusion related to the composition of the province's government, coupled with a more than gloomy outlook for the province's economy have all come crashing down on the new administration led by Marick Breytenbach. Although other Staatshouers, most notably the Staatshouers of Kaap, Boerestaat, Ijkpieland and Sint Pietereiland, have not even met with the State President, Staathouer Haarhoff did. At a meeting held at Smutshuis, the official residence of the State President in Koeistad, Staatshouer Marick Breytenbach lobbied for considerable federal support in getting the province's economy move once more and onto a new, more independent path. Although the nation maintains a federal system wherein the provinces maintain the exclusive right to govern within the confines of their borders and the constitution, the economic relationship between Tasselstaat and Koeistad has been considerably different compared to other provinces. Whereas the other provinces have undergone tremendous economic transformations in the past which have developed robust economic foundations in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture, research and development and the blue and green economies, for Tasselstaat this has not been the case. Since the declaration of the federation in 4906, the province has been almost wholly dependent on transfers and subventions from Koeistad. Unlike the other provinces, Tassselstaat did not have the opportunity to develop an economy which would make it independent of both the influence and control of Koeistad. Also present during the meeting was State Treasurer Dr Christiaan De Klerk, Secretary for Trade and Industry Wilhelmina Opperman and Tasselstaat's Provincial Treasurer Heinu Van Schalkwyk. Compared to the other provinces, Tasselstaat received the most loans related to economic and social development from the federal government, accounting for around 10-15 billion SAD on a near-annual basis, thus making it the most indebted province. This indebtedness to Koeistad has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the province's inhabitants as they note that although they continue to pay exorbitant amounts of taxation, they continue to see little to no return, be it in the form of a more vibrant provincial economy or noticeable improvements in their standard of living. The meeting sought to determine between the Federal Government and the Provincial Government, the appropriate course of action moving forward. The Fiscal Management Bureau (Fiskale Bestuursburo - FBB), an independent bureau of the Department of the Treasury and Finance responsible for managing the nation's debt situation, made a presentation before the meeting wherein it encouraged the Tasselstaat Treasury Corporation, the province's quasi-FBB to impose stricter rules towards ensuring the province's debt management profile does not become overwhelming. Director of the FBB, Dr Ruan Bernstein, stated that whilst the FBB was prepared to intervene in restructuring some of the province's outstanding debt obligations, much of the heavy lifting would have to be done by the province's Department of the Treasury and Finance in spurring economic growth and the Tasselstaat Treasury Corporation. A recent survey conducted by the Geological Society of Saridan found that Tasselstaat was sitting on a considerable reserve of iron ore. During the meeting, officials from the Geological Society presented their findings to the assembled technocrats and policymakers, wherein they also provided a detailed roadmap on the province's various options should it choose the monetise said resources. Dr Ajayi Katz, a senior geologist with the Geological Society stated that any decision to monetise the province's supposed abundance of iron ore reserves would have to be done within the confines of the province's strict environmental laws. Tasselstaat maintains the most strict environmental laws and standards in the country and potentially the region as the province has empowered its Office for Environmental Protection to levy multi-million dollar fines on companies and entities which violate the province's numerous standards. Staatshouer Breytenbach and Provincial Treasurer Van Schalkwyk stated that transitioning the province into one dependent on resource extraction was certainly new to both their administration and the province as a whole as they noted that the decision would most likely require months of stakeholder consultation on which direction to the people of Tasselstaat wish to see the province move, whether it would be through a state-owned company involved throughout the entire supply chain or whether free market enterprise would be the best decision for the province's economic future.

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Amidst decades of mismanagement and incompetence at the hands of the nation’s political administration, much of the Saridani Defence Force and its potential as a modern and effective fighting force had been reduced to its current state of malaise. From unit disorganisation to the dilapidated state of the equipment used in the various branches, the general neglect of the Defence Force has left it in a state wherein should the nation wage war amongst its neighbours, be it offensively or defensively, Saridan will surely use based on the state of the Armed Forces' equipment alone. Against the backdrop of the Armed Forces' calamitous state, recently appointed Commdant-General of the Saridani Defence Force General Gerhardus Van Deventer and Secretary for Defence Philippus Smuts confirmed at a press conference that the Defence Appropriations Committee of the Volksraad had approved the Department of Defence's largest budget in recent history. The budget places great emphasis on rebuilding the combat effectiveness/fighting potential of the Saridani Defence Force and makes the case for a complete overhaul of the various branches towards a more fluid and combined arms structure. In the budget came the introduction of a new procurement regime for the Department of Defence and the Armed Forces in the form of the Defence Procurement Agency, which when fully constituted will be responsible for the management and regulation of procurement contracts from the DoD and the various branches. Secretary Smuts stated that the agency's creation comes amidst concerns from Congress on the errant spending practices of former administrations. Chairman of the Defence Appropriations Committee Jaquan De Jongh (SAP-Skaatsbai), expressed concern for an increased budgetary allocation for the DoD noting that such a move should only come with a commitment on the part of the Federal Government to create a procurement agency to govern much of the procurement decisions of the DoD and the branches of the Defence Force. In an interview following the budget vote, he said, "We are aiming to cut unnecessary wastage and transform the way the DoD works to ensure it remains accountable and transparent. This is why I pushed for this new procurement agency." According to Secretary Smuts, the reforms to be implemented in both the DoD and Defence Force are born from a Defence White Paper published by the Senate Committee on Defence and National Security wherein it posited that the future operations of the reformed Saridan Defence Force should be capable of: (1) regional security operations (2) global security operations (3) humanitarian support operations (4) aiding allies in building-up their own Armed Forces via enhanced security relationship.

Both Secretary Smuts and General Van Deventer envision a moderately-sized, technologically superior Saridan Defence Force. General Van Deventer notes that insofar as his long-term plans for the SDF, he envisions one capable of responding to threats against the nation's regional interests as he notes, "Although for the interim our interests remain at home, there will come a time wherein our interests may be threatened by the actions of a few rogue nations. We must mould and shape the SDF into one capable of operations throughout the region, wherein we can deliver a powerful blow to near-peer adversaries well beyond Saridan's borders. He notes that as it relates to the planned size of the Saridan Defence Force, a large force would be difficult to equip, train and maintain in the interim, a small force would not be able to manage many of the potential threats coming out of future power competition, thus the long-term vision of the Defence Force rests on a moderately sized force. When pressed to give a specific figure for which the DoD was aiming for in the long-term, Secretary Smuts 80,000 active and 30,000 reserve. "Although we do not intend on materialising those numbers in the short or medium-term, those figures remain our long-term objective." Secretary Smuts said. As a means of enhancing the effectiveness/competency of commanders and soldiers within the Defence Force, Secretary Smuts noted that numerous legacy institutions including the Defence Force Academy would be making a return as he explained that through a deep understanding of doctrine, tactics and strategy could the officers/commanders of the Saridan Defence Force set themselves apart from those of other nations. When questioned on whether the DoD will push for the return of conscription, Secretary Smuts stated that the Saridan Defence Force of the future would be entirely voluntary as he noted that he had pushed for the end to mandatory conscription recognising the inherent challenges of trying to train a large conscript army into an extremely effective fighting force. To manage the wave of reforms coming to the numerous branches of the Defence Force, at a joint press conference at the DoD offices, General Van Deventer appointed the new commanders of the various branches of the SDF. They are Lieutenant General Pieter Van Straaten as Chief of the Army, Vice Admiral Christiaan Bernstein as Chief of the Navy and Lieutenant General Renier Vermaak as Chief of the Air Force.

Some of the changes to come to the Defence Force immediately are the general organisation of the units. According to General Van Deventer, as it pertained to the Saridani Army, there would be a deviation from its traditional infantry division towards a blend of mechanised and light infantry units. It is being stated that the Saridani Airborne Corps is set to return along with the potential return of the Saridani Corps of Marines. Lieutenant General Van Straaten explained that for the Saridani Defence Force and to a much larger extent, the Saridani Army, to be faster as it pertained to its general mobilisation units had to become significantly lighter and mobile. He noted that the airborne are generally deployed with only bare necessities and that mechanised units can rely upon the relative speed of their respective vehicles. The Saridani Army’s uniform is expected to undergo a major transformation programme to reflect the new focus of the Army. From new firearms to new armoured vehicles, the Saridani Army is expected to receive the most from the transformation. As it pertains to the Saridani Air Force, a doctrinal shift would have to be introduced. According to General Van Deventer, the Saridani Air Force has been primarily relegated to playing a minor transport role, with there being a serious lack of combat aircraft in the SAF's arsenal, the Defence Procurement Agency has noted that a request for proposals has been issued on finding Saridan's future combat aircraft. It is expected that Saridani pilots will be trained in numerous disciplines including air superiority, air interdiction, close air support and others as a means of ensuring it remains extremely flexible and capable of meeting any task. As it pertained to the Navy, General Van Deventer noted that the Navy would remain a green-water navy, however, there exist plans to transform the Saridani Navy into a blue-water navy in the future. According to Vice Admiral Bernstein, most of the equipment currently within the possession of the Navy will be moth-balled and sold for scrap, with the intention being that the Department of Defence will launch renewed contracts aimed at building the nation's surface fleet from the ground up. When questioned on the potential range of the future Saridani Navy, Vice Admiral Bernstein stated that for the interim operations would remain within Saridan's economic exclusion zone (EEZ), however, the acquisition of future pieces of equipment could see operations be expanded to numerous points throughout the continent.

[jamescfm]

Details finalised ahead of inaugural T20 Cricket World Cup in Luthori

[jamescfm]

Luthori and Saridan prevail in T20 Cricket World cup semi-finals

[jamescfm]

Saridan beat Luthori to win inaugural T20 Cricket World Cup

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At a joint press conference earlier this morning alongside recently appointed Commissioner of the Saridani Frontier Police Dawie Van Vollenhoven, Secretary for Home Affairs Beaunard Fourie announced that the Saridani Frontier Police had contracted the Skatsbaai Shipbuilding Corporation, a state-owned company of the Sint Pietereiland Provincial Government, to design and build a series of at-sea patrol boats to enhance the agency's effectiveness at securing the nation's borders. The announcement comes at the tail end of what many within the industry have considered to be an extremely drawn-out process. Following months of back and forward between the federal government (via the Saridani Frontier Police) and bidders, the decision was ultimately given to a local firm wherein the overall benefit accrued to the people of Sint Pietereiland and by extension Saridan overweighed the supposed benefits of an external contractor. The implementation of new procurement rules via the recently established Central Procurement Bureau brought the four (4) year bidding process to an end as the agency noted that to continue to drag the process along would ultimately be a breach of the agency's "value for money" principles. The 1.5 billion SAD project, which is expected to see the company construct around 10-12 vessels, is the largest project ever undertaken by the firm since its restructuring decades prior. The vessels, which are expected to take on an evolved design from an existing concept within the company known as Project CAPE13. President and CEO of the Skatsbaai Shipbuilding Corporation Divan Groenewald stated that the contract reaffirmed the company's belief that by continuing to become increasingly "assertive" in the local and regional shipbuilding market it could eventually begin to land considerable respect among the various private and public bodies. "We here at SSC believe that what we have to offer is a unique opportunity for us all to become involved in building something which is ours. We hope to continue to partner with the federal government and other potential partners in delivering the best equipment money can afford," Groenewald said. The vessels' construction comes amidst concerns related to the ability of the Saridani Frontier Police to manage its responsibilities related to border protection. With the Saridani Border Police having been folded back under the wing of the Federal Police, now called the Saridani Frontier Police, the agency has taken on considerable responsibilities, principal among them being as mentioned prior, coordinating at-sea border patrols alongside the Saridani Navy. Some of the specifications mentioned under the RFP issued by the Saridani Frontier Police were that compared to conventional patrol boats, the vessels procured would not possess major armaments. Major-General Wilona Malherbe, Assistant National Commissioner and Head of the Saridani Frontier Police's Border Patrol Force stated that the Saridani Frontier Police did not need to possess patrol boats which large armaments in order to apprehend potential suspects and surveil the nation's maritime borders as she also noted that much of the heavier armament would be the responsibility of the Saridani Navy vessels which will be stationed throughout the nation's EEZ to aid the Frontier Police in their operations. The vessels will reportedly possess the ability to use drone technology, as the company notes that small drones can be launched from a special deck of the vessel near the stern. As the vessels are offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) in all but name, it is expected that the vessels will be able to conduct extended operations, meaning that crews would undoubtedly be at sea longer than ever before. Major-General Malherbe stated that the Border Patrol Force was a "quasi-coast guard" due to both the evolving nature of the Frontier Police and crime as a whole.

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In its recommendations for addressing the chronic woes of Ijkpieland's agricultural sector, the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture pointed to the potential of establishing a seed bank within the province owing to the sometimes sensitive nature of agriculture and its relationship with natural disasters and crop diversity. Seed Banks, although not a particularly popular idea among the nations of the world, has seen some headway in other territories, particularly in Selucia and Kalopia, with the former being the first nation in the world to establish a functioning and internationally accredited seed bank which has become the template upon which numerous other seed banks, including the said bank in Kalopia and now Ijkpieland, will be supposedly based on. At a joint press conference held at the Ijkpieland Department of Food and Agriculture, Federal Secretary for Food and Agriculture Helouise Steenkamp, Staatshouer Yarrabyth Swanepoel, Ijkpieland's Provincial Minister for Food and Agriculture Kaikura Venter and Chancellor of the University of Ijkpieland Dr Beaunard Vermaak signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish what could eventually become the nation's largest seed bank. The details of the MoU note that the proposed seed bank would be financed by both the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture and the Ijkpieland Department of Food and Agriculture and maintained by the University of Ijkpieland's Department of Agriculture and Food Production. Dr Vermaak stated that he hoped that the research which would eventually flow from the University would lend itself to the development of higher-yield crops for use among the nation's farmers. "We are honoured to be the institution which will be responsible for the management of what could potentially/eventually become the nation's largest seed bank. We believe that this being a largely public venture, it remains a true achievement as it would enable everyone to benefit from the work to be done here. It is my honest hope that the research and development which is expected to flow from our students and researchers working to transform this seed bank would eventually lend itself to higher-yield, weathered resilient crops for use among our province's and potentially the nation's farmers," Dr Vermaak said. The facility from which much of this is expected to be led from will cost some 50 million SAD and through the efforts of firms such as Kruger International and BEF, the facility is expected to be near fully autonomous. As the initiative is largely driven by the public sector, significant carve-outs have been made to ensure the general public becomes the primary beneficiary of the initiative once it is fully operational. Once the seed bank is well stocked, the University of Ijkpieland in collaboration with the Federal Department of Food and Agriculture and the Ijkpieland Department of Food and Agriculture will host a "seed market", wherein the seed bank would release some of its stocks to the general public either for free or at prices below market value. Secretary Steenkamp stated that such an initiative would aid in encouraging citizens to grow their own crops and develop a culture of household gardening among the population. The event would also be an opportunity for university students and researchers to market their crops (which will be patented through a programme with the Intellectual Property Office) to both the general public and private sector companies. Secretary Steenkamp stated that he envisioned the event to become the second most important event during the calendar year for farmers and the public outside of National Farmer's Week which is in itself a massive/large farmer's market event which draws farmers from across Saridan. Construction on the supposed facility is expected to begin in the coming months as the respective entities finalise much of the details surrounding the facility's operations and general management.

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No other nation has demonstrated the inherent importance and successes of long-term national economic and social planning than Saridan. Since the proclamation of the Federal Republic centuries ago, Saridan's national development trajectory has been carefully guided by a robust yet flexible approach to national planning. From the government's ambitious plan to digitise almost every part of the Federal Government to the development of a vibrant digital economy to the nation's brief, but ultimately extremely successful foray into the petrochemicals sector, almost every major economic decision the nation has made since has been conceptualised by a painstakingly planned national development strategy. Yet as the Geldenhuys administration enters its new term, it has drawn a conclusion that many economists and financial analysts have highlighted in the past albeit in hushed tones. Amidst the great outpouring of government investment into addressing the nation's infrastructure challenges, uprooting and reforming the macroeconomic and fiscal foundation of the Saridani economy, the "state" has become a behemoth. In almost every sector, the national government leads the way in terms of innovation, employment levels and productivity. It is no secret that the Federal Government is the largest employer in Saridan, employing more than 1.8 million Saridani citizens throughout various government departments, agencies and state-owned companies. The economic activity of state-owned companies accounts for around 67% of the nation's GDP and the majority of patents issued via the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) have been primarily made by either state-owned companies and their subsidiaries or the various universities of Saridan. As a direct result, the private sector accounts for around 33% of national GDP and occupies a shrinking market presence as state-owned companies become more emboldened. This conclusion is reminiscent of the critiques of the late Dr Nelius Pretorius, a development economist, who conceptualised in a paper entitled "The Tortoise and the Hare: the Private Sector Innovation Myth" the phrase "the Laziness of the Private Sector". Dr Pretorius opined that "the laziness of the private sector" contributed to a lack of innovation within the Saridan at the time, with state enterprises and government departments being the near sole arbiters of innovation within the nation. With numerous tax concessions and beneficial arrangements created to encourage private sector involvement in the digital transformation of Saridan, the inability of the private sector to jump at said opportunities could soon create a situation wherein the private sector shrinks whilst the public sector continued to balloon. At a press conference at the Stigershof, State President Renier Geldenhuys alongside State Treasurer Dr Christiaan De Klerk and Secretary for Economic Affairs and Communications Dr Matthys Van Ryneveld stated that a holistic rethink was needed to ensure the nation could once again aggressively pursue long-term national economic and social planning albeit without the national government is the "fire starter". Dr Van Ryneveld explained that although this proposed "rethink" would not mean the shuttering of all state-owned companies, it would mean that the Federal Government would no longer become involved in numerous sectors. He noted that in many instances, the majority of Saridan's state-owned companies are primarily involved in sectors of the economy which one wouldn't usually see a state-owned company in other territories. Pointing to the state-owned ICT development company Digital Saridan and the state-owned fisheries company "National Fisheries" as two examples of ultimately nonsensical state-owned ventures, Geldenhuys stated that the principal reason behind the regression/retreat of the private sector was the scope/scale of government involvement in the various sectors of the economy. "The government has become very involved in the national economy to the point whereby we could be easily classified as a near-communist nation. These companies, backed by the weight of the public sector have been squeezing the private sector out of the markets they once dominated and now we find ourselves in a position wherein we've become so involved that the risk associated with our "spread" is enough to bring the entire economy crashing down should an unforeseen economic shock occur," Geldenhuys explained.

Seeking to provide both a new trajectory for national economic development and room for the private sector to make a herculean rebound in its contribution to national GDP, Drs De Klerk and Van Ryneveld unveiled Saridan's first national development bank, the State Investment Bank (Staatsbeleggingsbank - SBB). According to Dr Van Ryneveld, the SBB will be the new means by which the national government becomes involved in the national economy without the need for state-owned companies. She explained that with the government's intention to become less directly involved in numerous sectors of the economy, a period of mass privatisation is expected to sweep through the nation. "From telecommunications and ICT to agriculture and mining, the government intends to privatise all its state-owned companies involved in these sectors and tread a new path for government involvement in the economy: financing." The State Investment Bank is expected to be the sole government body responsible for providing financing for private-sector projects in the various sectors of the national economy. Based on a system developed in Keymon, private-sector companies seeking to become involved in a sector of the Saridani economy could apply for financing from the SBB wherein should the SBB approve financing, it will receive a stake in either the private business itself or the project which it is financing. In its role as Saridan's national development bank, the SBB will be responsible for advertising and financing national development projects also. For example, as the construction arm of the National Housing Corporation will be privatised, the construction of new housing units will be exclusively left to the private sector, however, the NHC may develop plans for housing units, contract a private sector company to construct and maintain the housing units whilst the SBB finances the project. Dr De Klerk explained that the SBB would act as a group of companies and thus would maintain numerous subsidiaries whose business would relate to the sector of national economic development they are responsible for providing financing and technical support. This includes the Industrial Finance Corporation which will provide financing for projects related to industrial development, from manufacturing to petrochemicals; the Housing Finance Corporation which, as mentioned prior, will provide financing for housing development projects both from the public and private sector; the Agricultural Finance Corporation which will provide financing for projects which reduce Saridan's dependence on imported foods and increases the nation's agricultural output and the Green Finance Corporation which will provide financing for projects related to the green and blue economies from solar and wind farms to the revitalisation of coastal communities. The proceeds for the government's "privatisation sprint" is expected to partly capitalise the SBB and its subsidiaries to the tune of 20 billion SAD with the remaining 30 billion SAD expected from privatisation set to remain in keeping in a fund for future uses of the national government. Geldenhuys believes that the SBB and its subsidiaries will become the single most important entities to Saridan's economic success since the creation of the Economic Planning Board of the Department of Economic Affairs and Communications. Veteran banker and former CEO of the Green Fund Dr Wikus Van Heerdens has been tapped to lead the SBB as the group's CEO.

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Science, Technology and Research remain the three most important features of the future economy as envisioned by the Boerestaat Provincial Government and the Saridani Federal Government. Although the nation cannot stake claim to significant scientific advancements in the past, nor can it boast of either a present or vibrant research ecosystem, its determination to become one of the world's foremost contributors to research and development in almost every scientific field is something to be both encouraged and celebrated. At the inaugural meeting of the recently constituted Saridan Scientific Conference, the woes of the nation's scientific community had been laid out for all to see by the Conference's Interim Chairman, Dr Heinrich Vermeulen. In his feature address, Dr Vermeulen lamented the lack of funding for research projects throughout the country as he expressed disappointment at the immobility of both the Federal Government and the Boerestaat Provincial Government in addressing the community's problems. "Although it should be noted that we continue to support the efforts of our members by providing whatever little funding we can to researchers in dire need of assistance, it is not something which will be sustainable in the future. The Saridan Scientific Conference has numerous subordinate entities underneath its wings, including numerous subordinate committees established to aid in funding the work of members of the idea of biomedical research, astrophysics, animal health, epidemiology, etc. These initiatives are primarily financed via donations as we do not receive any support/grants from the federal or pr provincial governments. Both entities seek grand visions for the development of a vibrant scientific research ecosystem within Saridan but have not placed the necessary focus or even funding required to see such a vision through," Dr Vermeulen said. He noted that although it was commendable that the province had effectively appointed its very own Chief Scientific Advisor in the form of Chairman of the Commission for Science and Technology, Dr Gerhardus De Bruyn, such an appointment did not go far enough in preparing the province and the nation to become a scientific research hub. "Although it [the Boerestaat Provincial Government] should be commended for its work in appointing the nation's first Chief Science Adviser in the form of Dr Be Bruyn, it is my firm belief that such an appointment does not go far enough in addressing the serious challenges of the nation's scientific community. The Commission for Science and Technology is primarily a policy development entity and is effectively barred from providing funding to encourage independent research and development. In its current capacity, the CST isn't even empowered to conduct its own research owing to staffing and budgetary constraints as the province hopes to keep the CST as a virtual scientific policy sweatshop," Dr Vermeulen lamented. In response to the scolding, Secretary for Science, Research and Innovation Dr Tjaart Van Der Knaap admitted that the Federal Government had not made much progress in advancing its promise/ambitions towards establishing a vibrant and present research ecosystem within Saridan. In a press statement following Dr Vermeulen's statement, the Secretary said: "It would be remiss of me to attempt to lie about the lack of progress we have made in this area. Whilst we remain committed to the idea of Saridan as a scientific research powerhouse. What continues to pester us is the simple yet loaded question of how we intend to get there." Vermeulen, in accepting both the near apology and honesty of Secretary Van Der Knaap proposed that the Federal Government should lead the charge and should refrain from the private sector coming a major guarantor of funding within the sector. To address the situation in its entirety, State President Renier Geldenhuys supposedly brought on Dr Vermeulen as a temporary advisor to the federal government in developing a roadmap for Saridan's scientific research future. One of his primary recommendations was the creation of an all-encompassing government agency responsible for funding and advancing scientific research (in all possible fields) within Saridan. Coined the National Research Foundation (Nasionale Navorsingstigting - NNS). In a press statement explaining the agency's functions, the Stigtershof explained that the NNS would be a combination of the Luthorian Imperial Society (in that it will be responsible for promoting science and its benefits, recognising excellence in science, supporting outstanding science, providing scientific advice for policy) and the Lodamese National Institutes for Public Health (in that it will be responsible for uplifting under-resourced persons). The NNS is expected to be an independent agency under the remit of the Department of Science, Research and Innovation, with much of the research conducted by the agency or funding by research fellows falling under its numerous "Centres" such as the Centre for Biomedical Research, the Centre for Advanced Biological Research, the Centre for Environmental Health Sciences, etc. As a reward for his yeoman service to the national scientific community, Dr Heinrich Vermeulen has been tapped to head the NNS as its inaugural President. Dr Van Der Kaap confirmed that the NNS' budget would become a line item from the Department of Science, Research and Innovation and it would be empowered to hold the patents on some of its creations. The NNS' headquarters and primary research facility is expected to be constructed in Boerestaat, in close proximity to both the University of Boerestaat and private institutions within the immediate area.

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A major component of the SDF's transformation and modernisation programme remains to build the force's capability to conduct operations within the immediate region and potentially within adjacent continents. As outlined in the recently published National Defence Review, "the Saridani Defence Force" must take unique advantage of the vacuum left amidst the decline of the Lodamese Commonwealth and reassert political, economic and military might across the Seleyan continent. A core piece of the puzzle related to how the SDF and the nation as a whole would eventually get there rests in the development of a component, efficient and effective amphibious assault force. Having virtually made the nation's intention to become increasingly assertive throughout the region clear, the development of a component and highly effective expeditionary warfare force would undoubtedly follow. At a press conference held at the Department of Defence building in Koeistad, Commandant-General of the Saridani Defence Force General Gerhardus Van Deventer, Chief of Naval Operations Vice-Admiral Christiaan Bernstein and Secretary for Defence Philippus Smuts explained both the Joint Forces Command and the Department of Defence's rationale behind the creation of a "corps of mariners" for Saridan. According to Secretary Smuts, the rationale behind such a unit's creation comes amidst concerns related to the SDF's ability to assert itself beyond the nation's borders in response to potential threats against its interests throughout the region alongside much larger actions which threatened regional peace and security. In its review of the Defence Force's expeditionary capabilities, the Department of Defence notes that although the SDF has made yeoman attempts in the past towards transforming the defence force into a more competent and respected force on the continent, many of these plans have not been properly implemented thus leading the SDF's current state. Amidst the revived fervour surrounding Saridan and the SDF taking an increasingly active role on the continent amidst the relative slip of the once-rising power Lodamun, the focus has shifted once more on determining whether the SDF is indeed capable of virtually becoming the continent's new security guarantor. Although there existed no actionable neer-peer competition or threat from an extra-regional territory looming over the continent, Smuts noted that as other nations begin to become increasingly assertive (seemingly buoyed by their great economic fortunes) the possibility for confrontation between nations both within the continent and outside of its undoubtedly increases. In selling the idea of a "marine corps" to the Saridani people, Secretary Smuts stated that there were considerable challenges which Saridan itself would have to stomach. He noted that although the nation maintains a policy in that the SDF would continue to remain a force for good within the continent, it would undoubtedly draw the nation into considerable disagreements with other nations. "The Marine Corps we are envisioning is one which is not narrow in its objectives and operational environment. We must swallow the hard truth that we must prepare ourselves for any and all eventualities and that an expeditionary force, capable of being deployed throughout the region in response to clear and present threats against the established peace is but the only option/choice for a marine corps such as ours," Smuts explained. General Van Deventer stated that although the Saridani Marine Corps as it is to be called was being designed as an expeditionary force, its roots will most certainly be planted in coastal defence. "What worth is there in having a competent and highly trained marine corps if it is not capable of defending the nation's coasts? Should our nation find itself on the backend of a horrible invasion, our marine corps will undoubtedly be among the troops who conduct operations which will undermine our potential enemy's efforts to subdue our nation," General Van Deventer proclaimed. Apart from training for traditional amphibious warfare operations, Vice-Admiral Bernstein believes that the Saridani Marine Corps could potentially become the tip of the spear for the SDF. He noted that their training in jungle warfare, cold-weather warfare, mountain warfare, urban warfare and desert warfare would make the supposedly 10-15,000 strong force into a highly efficient, pseudo-shock infantry formation capable of delivering a heavy blow to enemy combatants before the main force arrives. To lead the Marine Corps formation, General Van Deventer has appointed Brigadier Adriaan Oosthuizen as Commandant-Colonel of the Saridani Marine Corps. Similar to the structure which exists in nations such as Zardugal and Lodamun, the Saridani Marine Corps will be an independent yet connected branch of the Saridani Navy, with the Commandant-Colonel of the Marine Corps answering to the Chief of Naval Operations. On the procurement situation and the question of how the Saridani Marine Corps would obtain its equipment, General Van Deventer stated that unlike the arrangements in Zarudgal and Lodamun, the Saridani Marine Corps would be able to procure its own equipment as if it were its own branch akin to the Army, Airforce or Navy. However, he noted that much of its equipment would have to be justified in that it would have to justify/explain its rationale should the corps seek to acquire main battle tanks in the future which General Van Deventer stated would never be approved. "The Marine Corps must be highly mobile and hard-hitting at the same time. Equipment such as the Rooikat and the SALAV would undoubtedly be great fits for the Marine Corps." General Van Deventer said.