OSTİM Defense and Aviation Cluster (OSSA) organized the Localization and Nationalization Collaboration e-Workshop with HAVELSAN. Speaking at the opening of the event, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar said, “The most important step to be taken after localization is to increase the export rates of domestic products. The localization, branding and export of critical products and components will also enrich our technological competence network in the defense sector on an international platform.” said.
In the 2-day event, 42 OSSA member companies discussed cooperation opportunities with HAVELSAN to produce domestic and national technologies in 43 different fields of activity.
The opening of the workshop, which was held in a video conference environment with HAVELSAN Dialogue application, was attended by OSTİM Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yulek, HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. It was held with the participation of Mehmet Akif Nacar and OSSA Chairman of the Board A. Mithat Ertuğ.
Export potential is promising
OSSA Chairman of the Board of Directors Mithat Ertuğ drew attention to the success of the projects implemented in the defense industry in the recent period and said, "The Turkish defense and aviation industry has reached a position where it can produce its own tanks, helicopters, ships and unmanned aerial vehicles." said.
Reminding that the rate of localization exceeds 70 percent in meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, Ertuğ stated that the distance and potential in exports promises hope for the future.
Mithat Ertuğ, who noted that they continued to bring the main industry companies and SMEs together in line with the founding purpose of OSSA, by adapting to the pandemic conditions, shared the following views: "Therefore, I attach great importance to the meeting of our SMEs, which I describe as heroes, with main contractors. In our workshop, cooperation opportunities will be discussed in order to contribute to the technologies developed by HAVELSAN, one of the leading companies of our country, together with more than 43 member companies in 40 different fields of activity, and to produce domestic and national technologies. I think that the bilateral meetings will be productive both in terms of the issues determined within the scope of our workshop and in finding solutions to different needs that may develop instantly during the negotiations.”
Ertuğ, keeping information security at the forefront, drew attention to the fact that they carried out the workshop through the Dialogue program developed by HAVELSAN.
Working for sustainable collaborations
HAVELSAN General Manager Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar reminded that Turkey has made significant progress in the industry and defense industry with the support of SMEs during the pandemic period.
Drawing attention to OSSA's contributions to the defense industry, Nacar said, “OSSA plays an important role in increasing domestic and national production in our defense industry with its capabilities in R&D and production. Our OSSA member companies are also solution partners of many national projects in the field of defense. It also adds value to our industry with the Industrial Cooperation in Defense and Aviation (ICDDA). said.
Emphasizing that HAVELSAN works for sustainable collaborations, General Manager Nacar said, “Our most basic motto is to produce domestic and national products and to develop cooperation and strategies towards this goal.” said.
Nacar pointed out that developed countries develop their domestic products with protectionist policies.
“Export of domestic products should increase”
HAVELSAN General Manager listed the issues they attach importance to in their localization activities as follows; supporting the investment, production, employment and export value chain, displaying an approach that values innovation, design and branding, and acting with the goal of exporting value-added products.
Explaining that they also attach great importance to exports, Nacar said, “The most important step to be taken after localization is to increase the export rates of domestic products. That is, an economy of scale. As our domestic added value increases, our level of foreign dependency on high-tech national products will decrease. The localization, branding and export of critical products and components will also enrich our technological competence network in the defense sector on an international platform.” said.
Similar platforms should be established in the civil industry
OSTİM Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek drew attention to the fact that Turkey is one of the countries in the world in the defense industry, but it is not in the same situation in the civil sectors.
Yülek said, “Medical device technologies, drugs, vaccines, rail systems, etc. Unfortunately, we cannot show the success we have in the defense industry, especially because the procurement policies of the public sector are very uncoordinated here.” said.
Expressing that the Presidency of Defense Industry Presidency of the Republic of Turkey fulfills its duty as an industry development platform and that the sector has achieved success in the world, Yülek said, “Under the leadership of the Presidency of Defense Industries, our organizations such as HAVELSAN have prioritized domestic industry development.”
Drawing attention to the importance of OSSA and HAVELSAN coming together, Yülek said, “In this study, HAVELSAN is leading the way to explore the capabilities of OSSA in the technological fields, many of which are also projected in civilian areas, and to show them their own needs and vision, and thus It contributes to the formation of domestic industrial and technological capacity in the fields.” said.
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