Over US$6.2 billion worth of agreements expected to be finalised during event.
In keeping with its towering status on the world stage, the limelight was squarely on Türkiye’s rapidly growing indigenous defence industry as SAHA Expo 2024, the fourth edition of the biennial event, officially opened on Tuesday.
Yaşar Güler, Minister of National Defence of Türkiye, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, Minister of Industry and Technology, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, President of the Defence Industry Agency of Türkiye, and Haluk Bayraktar, SAHA Istanbul Chairman and Baykar CEO, addressed a packed audience to kickstart the biennial event.
The edition is the biggest ever, both in size and stature. Over 1,400 companies, representatives from 120 countries, and more than 300 official delegations are at the event that is expected to draw more than 150,000 visitors. More than 25,000 B2B meetings and 53 product launches will take place.
Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır spoke about the covert and overt embargoes that the country has faced for many years from those “who want to weaken our country at the table and in the military field.” Türkiye has encountered various difficulties in the supply and maintenance processes of defence products. “Our experience has shown that developing original technologies in the defence industry is a matter of survival of our country.”
Türkiye increased its localization rate from 20 percent in 2002 to o over 80 percent in 2023, the Minister said. The quality and quantity of our defence projects have shown tremendous development. While 62 defence industry projects were carried out in 2002, the number has now exceeded a thousand. There has been a 12 percent increase year to date in defence exports in 2024, he added.
The ongoing edition seems set to be a record-breaking one. To applause from the audience, Bayraktar said a total of US$6.2 billion worth of agreements are expected to be finalised in 133 signing ceremonies during the fair. Export contracts alone will account for US$4.6 billion. Interestingly, Türkiye’s defence and aviation sector's exports in 2023 amounted to US$5.5 billion, a record. The event gives the Turkish defence industry a chance to showcase the extensive range of products and technological innovations that has helped the country become the 11th largest arms exporter in the world.
Bayraktar lauded the Turkish defence and aviation industry for its wide range of products and capabilities. “We have a say in every field, from land vehicles to sea platforms, unmanned aerial platforms to ammunition, missiles to communication and combat support systems. These capabilities strengthen our national security and make our country a competitive player in the global market.”
Bayraktar also alluded to the sterling performance of the Turkish domestic defence and aviation sector when it comes to exports. Revenue from exports touched US$5.5 billion while as many as 230 Turkish defence industry products reaching 185 countries. Baykar's exports exceeding $1.7 billion are a clear indication of our global leadership in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, he said. The presence of institutions such as TUSAŞ, MKE, TEI, as well as high-tech companies such as Roketsan and Aselsan on the list reflects the depth and diversity of the sector, he added.
Türkiye’s leading international defence and aerospace exhibition is organized by SAHA Istanbul, the biggest defence and aerospace cluster of Türkiye and Europe. The cluster has over 1,200 members, including 29 universities. For the first time in the history of the event, there are pavilions for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. There is a Space pavilion as well, to showcase the progress made by Türkiye in the domain and to provide show visitors information about the National Space Program.
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