More than forty foreign ministers attending yesterday’s International Conference on Afghanistan endorsed President Karzai’s plan to have Afghani security forces assume responsibility for the country’s security by 2014.

The information technology (IT) sector will dominate the US HLS-HLD market, claiming 21% of the total 2010-2014 market (4x the size of the aviation security sector).

While the Department of Homeland Security is a critical fixture in the HLS-HLD market, it represents only 19% of the total market. The combined state and local market represents 23% of the business opportunities.

Over the next five years, the US HLS-HLD market (federal, state and local governments, and the private sector) will grow at a CAGR of at least 5% from $69 billion in 2010 to $85 billion by 2014.

Gain essential market intelligence and capitalize on the market opportunities being created by double-digit CAGR 2010-2014 of this $4+ billion market.

HSRC forecasts the total market (including systems sales, maintenance, upgrade & refurbishment) to triple from $0.6 billion in 2009 to over $2 billion by 2014, as the market moves from metal detector and tabletop ETD-centered screening that cost $5,000 – $25,000 to more comprehensive systems that cost from $100,000 to $250,000.

The failed Christmas day bombing of Northwest flight 253 has triggered a revolution in the people screening marketplace which will result in a move away from metal detector portal- based screening to premium detection technologies.

Increasing concern over Iran’s growing influence, backed by its nuclear ambitions, as well increased Al-Qaeda activity in the region, has triggered a rapid increase in the quality and quantity of security systems being purchased by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.