21.03.2019 Kayseri
Speaking at “The Place of Kayseri’s Industry in the Future of Aerospace and Defense Sector” meeting, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, noted that the defense industry turnover has reached $ 7 billion, “We as Kayseri, want to be a part of the process and contribute more to the defense industry of our country.”
“The
Place of Kayseri’s Industry in the Future of Aerospace and Defense Sector”,
meeting was held at the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce Conference Hall with the
participation of Hulusi Akar, Minister of National Defense, General Yaşar
Güler, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Kayseri Governor Şehmus
Günaydın, Defense Industry President İsmail Demir, President of Kayseri Chamber
of Industry and TOBB Board Member Mehmet Büyüksimitçi, Kayseri Chamber of
Commerce President Ömer Gülsoy and sector representatives.
TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, emphasized the importance of the meeting for
Kayseri in his speech. Hisarcıklıoğlu, who pointed out that Kayseri was a city
without industry just 100 years ago, said, “In 1926, Kayseri took the first
steps in industrialization with the Kayseri Tire Factory and the Bünyan Carpet
Yarn Factory and Sümerbank Cloth Factory in 1935. Tank Repair and Maintenance,
which was established in Kayseri, turned into a center in this area and became
a veritable tank hospital. Thanks to the masters and entrepreneurs who grew up
here, Kayseri launched a great breakthrough. It has become a brand city not
only in trade but also in industry, tourism and education. Today, with 3
Organized Industrial Zones, a Free Zone and a Technology Development Zone, it
has reached a position where we can all take pride in. We have an export volume
with high added value of approximately 2.5 billion USD, almost all industrial
products. Last year, exports increased by 7% in our country; Kayseri quadruped
the average with 27%.”
- Investment industry turnover reached
7 billion USD
Expressing
their desire to move forward with the industrialization story started with the
Aircraft Plant through the defense industry, the TOBB President stated that Turkey
achieved considerable success in this field thanks to public and private sector
collaboration. Stating that the defense industry’s external dependency ratio of
80% in 2002 has been reduced to 35% in 2018, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our
industry's turnover reached 7 billion USD in 2018. We have also advanced in
global competition. Four of our companies have entered the list of the world's
largest defense companies. Defense industry sector exports exceeded 2 billion USD
in 2018. I am proud of the architects of the Defense Industry, the Defense
Industry Presidency, the General Staff and our companies.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the public, alone, could not achieve all these achievements without
the determination and diligence of the private sector, nor the private sector
without the support of the public administration, “Of course, we will not be
satisfied with this. Turkish defense industry has the potential to achieve much
more than it has ever done in the areas of production, export and technology
development. As Kayseri, we want to take part in this process and contribute
more to the defense industry of our country.”
- Minister of National Defense
Hulusi Akar
National
Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said in his speech, “A strong defense industry is
not a choice, it is an obligation. We have to do it.”
Akar
stated that a critical process has been carried out at the regional and global
level, “There are various risks, dangers and threats to our country due to
political and military conflicts around us. Against these, we must be ready to
defend our noble nation's sovereignty and independence; our motherland.”
Minister
Akar emphasized that his primary duties are the security of 780,000 square
kilometers of homeland and 462,000 square kilometers of sea and stated that they
work with determination and diligence.
Akar
also touched upon the fight against terrorism, stating that in addition to the
heroism and sacrifice of the personnel in this field, the advanced technology
developed by the domestic and national defense industry also deserves
recognition.
Akar
pointed out that the defense industry is not only a matter of economy and
recalled the problems in the field of defense industry in the past. Drawing
attention to the fact that deals have been reneged upon by the seller despite exchanging
hand for weapons and systems in the past, Akar said, “In 2011, maintenance of
the engines of our UAVs were not conducted in violation of our agreement. 'Bad
neighbor makes for new home owners,' and by activating our civilian-military,
private-public facilities, we have reached this point. Today, our private,
public companies are building UAVs and exporting them.”
Under
the leadership of President Erdoğan, Akar stated that important steps were
taken in the defense industry in terms of local and national production, and that
the ratio of national production which was around 20% in 2002 is now around 70%.
- Kayseri Chamber of Commerce President
Ömer Gülsoy
Kayseri
Chamber of Commerce (KTO) President Ömer Gülsoy, in a statement after the “Place
of Kayseri’s Industry in the Future of Aerospace and Defense Sector” panel, said,
“We want to contribute more to the defense industry of our country.”
After
the program, President Gülsoy stated that the business people of Kayseri in the
hall were pleased and said, “I am proud and happy to have hosted such an
important meeting on behalf of the Kayseri Chamber of Commerce. In order to
leave a more prosperous Anatolia region, which is geopolitically and
strategically important, to future generations, it is of great importance to be
economically, culturally and politically strong. Moreover, it is imperative
that we have powerful, efficient armed forces and therefore a strong defense
industry. As pleasing as the progress we’ve made is, it is not good enough for
us. We need new investments to progress. In this context, Kayseri is one of the
prime cities which will contribute to the National Defense Industry initiated
by our Government.
- Defense Industry President İsmail
Demir
Defense
Industry President İsmail Demir said in his speech that, “Defining the talents
of the sector and in order to prevent repetition while making healthy and
effective investments; making detailed and updated information of all sector
companies in order to determine similar capabilities in different sectors
within the framework of conflict-preparedness activities, the ‘Defense Industry
Capability Inventory’ portal (YETEN) will be implement soon.
Demir,
in his speech at the “Place of Kayseri’s Industry in the Future of Aerospace
and Defense Sector” panel, they are working diligently to ensure that the
development of the defense industry for the future of Turkey's independence and
sovereignty; to ensure sustainability; to engender a broad ecosystem of
conflict readiness; as well as continuing presence of a structure which exports
goods.