Defense Industry Head: We Now Export in a Week What We Used to Export in a Year 20 Years Ago

Haluk Görgün, the head of Turkey's Defense Industry Agency, made significant statements at the June assembly meeting of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Görgün emphasized that Turkey has undergone a major transformation in the defense industry over the past 23 years, reducing foreign dependency. He noted that the annual defense industry export figure of $250 million in 2002 is now achieved in a single week. This success, he said, is due to the decisions made under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership and the emphasis on domestic production.

In his speech, Görgün highlighted Bursa's importance as a production hub in Turkey. He stated that Bursa has 17 organized industrial zones, over 96,000 active companies, and more than 800,000 employees. Additionally, the city hosts over 130 research centers, 31 design centers, 2 technoparks, and 3 universities, supporting the production ecosystem with knowledge, design, and engineering.

Discussing the global conjuncture, Görgün noted that the security hierarchy is being reshaped and that those in favor of peace and stability must be more deterrent. He observed that conflicts in hot regions show that deterrence is measured not only by the number of platforms and ammunition in inventory but also by production capacity, supply chain depth, engineering capability, and financial sustainability.

Görgün stated that Turkey has achieved a domestic content rate of over 80% in defense industry products, developing solutions for land, sea, air, and space domains. These products are exported to more than 180 countries, with over 4,500 companies, more than 1,400 projects, and over 100,000 employees forming a robust ecosystem. He also mentioned that the NATO Secretary General frequently highlights Turkey's defense industry capacity.

İbrahim Burkay, Chairman of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized that the defense industry is a guarantee of independence and future. He stated that this sector is not only a military power but also a strategic area demonstrating production capability and technological strength. Burkay noted that Turkey is in a geography surrounded by conflict, making a strong defense industry vital for protecting national interests.