Page 18 - SAHA EXPO 2024 - DAY 2

Türkiye’s Domestic Defence Industry’s Growth in Focus

Over US$6.2 billion worth of agreements expected to be finalised during event

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

18 OCTOBER-23-2024 WWW.GBP.COM.SG/DAILY NEWS