Mr. Lütfi Varoğlu, Head of International Cooperation at Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, SSM informed us about Turkish Defence Industries export figures in 2012, export strategies and capabilities, Turkey-UAE relations in defence and aerospace industry, joint R&D activities with UAE and the future of UAE-Turkey export activities to the third countries for Defence Turkey Magazine.
We are also giving great importance to IDEF 2013 that will be organized in İstanbul in May. IDEF is proved to be one of the most successful defence and security cooperation events in the region, attracting more exhibitors and visitors every two years. We are inviting all our future partners to join us in this event who share the same cooperation vision with us.
We also encourage our companies to
join industry and capability Work Groups such as NATO and ASD; keeping them up to date about the cooperation possibilities and seeking more efficient mechanisms for them to bemore active in those platforms through the guidance and help of our cooperation offices. We also hold Defence Industry Days
in collaboration with other countries focusing on joint development, production and seeking co-marketing opportunities for the third countries.
We do also try to utilise other cooperation channels and platforms such as the D8, Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council, American Turkish Council. This year, for example, within the organisation of International Cooperation Platform-Bosphorus Regional Cooperation Summit-2012, a defence and security panel was organized for the first time. We had the honour to host distinguished panellists and discuss defence cooperation.
The third was the establishment of necessary organisations,marketing and financial incentives. For this reason, we have established Defence Industry Exporters Association in 2011, with full support and coordination of the Ministry of Economy. As I mentioned earlier, the Association organised the Exploratory Conference that we, defence industry representatives and related governmental officials, all came together to discuss and coordinate our efforts.
We are also working on mechanisms to offer our potential customers government to government defence sales like FMS. In addition, a credit mechanism has been established through Turkish Exim Bank in line with our defence export strategies.
Defence Turkey: How do you assess UAE and Turkey relations in defence and aerospace industry?
UAE has always been a good friend and ally for Turkey in terms of cooperation in many aspects. As to defence cooperation, we took the first big step with the procurement of armoured vehicles by UAE at the end of 1990s. During the last couple of years with the support of high level visits from both sides, we have had the chance to explore each other’s capabilities. Those official visits and also defence exhibitions that were organised by both sides paved the way to better understand mutual expectations and to further cooperation in many dimensions. During IDEF 2009, an LOI was signed between SSM and Tawazun Holding to enhance defence cooperation, which was the first LOI of that kind. After that signature, we have had many meetings bilaterally and decided to work closer for concrete projects. Now, we have an SSM office in Tawazun building and Tawazun Holding has an office in Ankara. We keep working on some cooperation topics that we will be able to announce in 2013. Therefore, I can say that we have taken our defence cooperation to a whole new and beneficial level for both parties and we are both eager to strive for this aim.
Defence Turkey: Could you please enlighten us about Turkey’s activities and achievements realized in recent years in UAE?
One of the recent achievements of our industry is the contract signed between Abu Dhabi Ship Building Company and Yonca_Onuk for the procurement of 34 MRTPs, fast patrol boats with STAMPs, Stabilized Machine Gun Platforms by ASELSAN. Following this, ASELSAN also signed another contract for additional STAMP and STOP systems and finally, ASELSAN established a joint venture with International Golden Group of UAE for cooperation. Lately, Roketsan has had an agreement with Tawazun for Cirit 2,75" laser guided missile. In light of these developments, we believe that the cooperation programmes with UAE shall increase. We hope that we will be able to see further cooperation issues in many different areas like communication, Naval and air platforms, and armoured vehicles. We are also looking forward to see the results of the UAE’s 8x8 armoured vehicle programme.
Defence Turkey: What are your plans and approach about joint production, joint R&D activities with UAE?
We have already shared our project portfolio with UAE. We have established different channels such as military dialogues and meetings. Also Tawazun and SSM have established a channel and so we are exchanging all kinds of technological issues and new programmes. The decision regarding the joint production and joint R&D is up to the efficiency and benefits of both countries. We have some topics in our agenda. As I mentioned, Cirit Programme was initiated at the end of 2012. Hopefully we will have further programmes to be announced in 2013 for joint activities in UAE and also UAE activities in Turkey.
Defence Turkey: How do you assess the future of UAE-Turkey export activities to the third countries in the region?
I think we have to look this topic from another perspective. Turkey has always been a good ally and friend to all GCC countries and in the region we have always had good relations with each of them. You know, speaking of bilateral relations of course we have different programmes with different countries. But in terms of cooperation with GCC countries we are working on some possible projects and methods that we can utilize. Turkey and UAE both are ready to support each other and come up with the reasonable solutions for the third countries. I think we will able to see some results very soon because UAE and Turkey are both very active in diplomacy and also in technological innovation and investments.
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