28.01.2019 Eskişehir
Speaking at the Turkey Defense Industry Council meeting which was attended by the National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that Turkey is the owner of the world's 9th most effective military force, said, “The way to maintain this power in the near future is a strong economy and investment in high technology. We have taken rapid steps in this direction in the last period.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
along with National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, attended the Turkish Defense
Industry Council meeting held in Eskisehir Aerospace Factory. In his speech,
TOBB President reported that the defense industry external dependency ratio,
which was 80% in 2002, has decreased to 35%, and the Turkish Aerospace and
Defense Industry turnover has increased to 7 billion USD.
Stating
that 4 Turkish companies have entered the list of the biggest defense companies
in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have also progressed in global
competition. Defense industry sector exports have exceeded 2 billion USD in
2018. We have participated in giant international projects such as F-35 and
A-400. Like Antonov, we have come to the point of exporting UAVs to Ukraine,
which produces the world's largest aircraft. I am proud of the Ministry of
Defense, the Defense Industry Presidency, our General Staff and our companies
who are the architects of all these successes. Neither the private sector
without public support nor the public sector, without the perseverance and hard
work of the private sector could achieve this success alone.”
- “We will not be satisfied with
these achievements”
Stating
that the Turkish defense industry has much more potential in the fields of
production, export and technology development, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that defense companies should integrate SMEs into their production processes to
the maximum extent. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The big players of the sector and the
SMEs located around them should act together. As President Erdoğan has said, ‘We
will reach our goals for the defense industry with the dynamism of the private
sector. The time of buying finished products is over. No product will be bought
wholesale from abroad.’ This has created a new enthusiasm and enthusiasm for Turkish
companies to strive harder. Our goal is for Turkish companies to become global
player with advanced technology, unique design and production. I believe that
we will achieve these goals. Let’s work hand in hand; let's work together with
unity of goals and ideas.”
- Domestic and national production
gained momentum
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that Hulusi Akar, the Minister of National Defense had previously met
with the sector council at the Kırıkkale Ammunition Factory, and said “We had
conveyed the demands of the sector to our Minister in Kırıkkale. The Minister
gave the necessary instructions immediately after the meeting and our problems
were resolved. STANAGs (standardization agreements) started to be published on
our Ministry's website. Studies on localization and nationalization were
initiated. Facility security certificate and production permits were facilitated.
Products that do not require a production permit have been removed from the subject
to control list. I would like to express our gratitude to Minister Akar for his
executive management understanding that solves the problems of our sector.”
Stating
that, with the principles of Minister Akar, 12 companies have signed a
Strategic Cooperation Agreement, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that new momentum
has been gained for domestic and national production. The TOBB President said,
“Our ancestors spoke about this centuries ago: Be ready for war if you desire
peace. The liberation of nations are enshrined in these words. Today, the
conditions of our region have made it not only necessary to be prepared for
conflict, but also to preemptively eliminate threats at their inception. The
new security manifesto of our country is no longer limited to patience until
the knife is at our throat. Destruction of the threat at their origin means not
waiting for them to attack us. This is because in such a tumultuous region,
only the strong can live. The Turkish armed forces are the single most
deterrent force this region.”
- Minister of National Defense
Hulusi Akar
National
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, “The most important issue that we will face
next is that when the ownership of the F35s are transferred to us, the
maintenance of over 100 of these fighters will be conducted at the 1st Air
Maintenance Directorate. Work is underway to this end. Great success has been
achieved so far in many of our factories. Even greater success will be
achieved. We will address our shortcomings, fix our errors; we will be open to
consultation, discussion and suggestions. We must make realistic progress
towards our mid- and long-term goals based on grounded plans.”
- "Export should be considered
in the production of goods and services"
Akar
drew attention to the need for high-tech production in the defense industry.
Akar, stating that the defense industry should utilize its current potential, said,
“Especially if the defense industry only plans to meet domestic demands, will
eventually stagnate. The defense industry should be built for high technology.
There is great demand abroad. There are countries that have this need, our
friends, our allies, our brothers and sisters. These have serious expectations
and demands. We must take note of this and organize accordingly.”