Turkish defense businesses in ambitious global market push

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Various types of Turkish armored vehicles complete training in the southern province of Hatay near the Syrian border. Turkey sells armored vehicles to several countries. AA photo

The Turkish defense industry plans to promote its wide range of military products by attending at least eight international defense and security fairs next year, in a bid to increase its share in the global arms market.

The local defense industry exports to nearly 60 countries, selling products worth more than $1 billion.
Products made by the Turkish defense industry have seen great international interest, resulting in a number of significant sales agreements in 2012, Lütfi Varoğlu of the Undersecretariat of the Defense Industry told Anatolia news agency yesterday.

Participating in international fairs and trade missions has played an important role in helping the national defense industry to strike sales and cooperation agreements, said Varoğlu, who is the head of the international cooperation department at the undersecretariat.

Future fairs

Turkish defense companies have participated in eight international fairs and visited six countries to date, he said, adding that sales of Turkish defense products to Arab countries in the Persian Gulf region were especially notable during these visits.

The undersecretariat plans to participate in at least eight international defense and security fairs next year to increase its exports volume, with a rich selection of products to offer, including high-technology military supplies, Varoğlu said.

The most important defense fair next year will be the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF), which will take place in Istanbul, Varoğlu said, adding that the IDEX Fair, which will take place in February in the United Arab Emirates, is another noteworthy event.

IDEF 2013, the 11th International Defense Industry Fair, will be held between May 7 and 10 next year at The Tüyap Fair, Congress and Convention Center in Istanbul, under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense and the responsibility and management of Turkish Armed Forces Foundation, according to Tüyap’s official web site.

Turkey will have a 2,500 square-meter pavilion at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) which will be held between Feb. 17 and 21.

Other fairs on the schedule are as follows: LAAD (Brazil), Apr. 9-12; Defense & Security (Thailand), Nov. 4-7; Bridex (Brunei), Oct. 8-12; AUSA (U.S.), Oct. 21-23; GODA (Oman), Jan. 8-10; F-Air Colombia (Colombia), Jul. 11-14; and the Dubai Air Show (U.A.E.), Nov. 17-21.