President Erdoğan said, "Last year, we reached an export level of $4 billion 400 million. In the first six months of this year, we achieved a record export level of $2 billion 378 million. Our target for 2023 is $6 billion. We believe that, by the end of the year, we will achieve our export target and even surpass it, by the grace of Allah."
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the participants via video message at the opening of the IDEF'23- 16th International Defence Industry Fair- held at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Centre in İstanbul.
Wishing the 16th edition of IDEF to be auspicious, President Erdoğan congratulated all the institutions and organisations that have contributed to the fair, which is being held under the auspices of the Presidency.
President Erdoğan extended a warm "welcome" to the international guests, state and government officials, ministers, and military officials who have travelled to Istanbul to participate in the Fair.
Indicating that since its inception in 1993, IDEF has grown into a successful event and established itself as a globally renowned brand in the defence industry, President Erdoğan said, "I believe that our annual fair, where agreements worth millions of dollars are signed, new partnerships are formed, and defence industry products are displayed, will increase the success graph even further this year."
President Erdoğan emphasized that despite the many obstacles they face, such as the secret and open embargoes, Türkiye places a high priority on developing its defence industry and said, "Thankfully, we have begun to reap the benefits of our National Technology Move, which we have diligently pursued for years, in numerous fields."
Highlighting the Turkish defence industry's success story that the entire world has followed with admiration in recent years, President Erdoğan stated that the industry has demonstrated its maturity with its armoured vehicles, cannons, rockets, air defence systems, radar systems, and other weapons that have been tested in conflict zones.
President Erdoğan pointed out that Türkiye can meet nearly all of its needs for land, air, and sea vehicles through domestic and national resources and continued to say:
"We are among the top three nations in the world in terms of unmanned aerial vehicle and armed unmanned aerial vehicle technology. Türkiye, one of ten countries that have constructed their own warships, is also a significant exporter in this industry. We have put the TCG Anadolu, which can be called the world's 'first UCAV' ship, into the service of our navy. We are now taking our UCAV initiative, which began with Akıncı, to a whole new level with our unmanned combat aircraft, Kızılelma.
We have introduced the KAAN, our fifth-generation national combat aircraft. We are working to bring its production processes to fruition. Aside from that, we are meticulously implementing 850 different projects that will leave their mark on the defence industry. Last year, we reached an export level of $4 billion 400 million. In the first six months of this year, we achieved a record export level of $2 billion 378 million. Our target for 2023 is $6 billion. I believe that, by the end of the year, we will achieve our export target and even surpass it, by the grace of Allah."
"Product sales are not our sole objective"
President Erdoğan said, "During our visit to the Gulf countries last week, we signed export contracts for defence industry products at a record high price. We believe that new ones will be added to these agreements at IDEF’23" and added:
We have always stated that product sales are not our sole objective; we intend to establish long-term partnerships and develop collaborative projects. We are pleased to share our knowledge, know-how, and experience in the defence industry with our friends. With these thoughts, I wish each of our companies success at the fair, where they will showcase the latest products they have developed in the fields of land, sea, aviation and space, logistics support, and security. I hope the international defence industry fair will be fruitful, and I would like to express my gratitude to all the participants as well as all our guests."