SAHA EXPO seals $4.3B in defense export agreements
People visit the stands of different companies at the International Defense, Aerospace and Space Industry Fair SAHA EXPO 2024 at Istanbul Fair Center on October 24, 2024 in Istanbul, Turkiye. (AA Photo)
SAHA Istanbul Chairman and Baykar General Manager Haluk Bayraktar announced that $4.3 billion of the $6.19 billion in total agreements signed at SAHA EXPO 2024 were export contracts.
During the final day of the expo, Bayraktar held a press conference with SAHA Istanbul board members. He emphasized the importance of the agreements, noting that 133 contracts were signed, with $4.332 billion being exports.
The expo hosted companies from 121 countries, with 27 ministers, 6 chiefs of staff, and 178 procurement delegations from 35 countries visiting the event.
Record participation and agreements at SAHA EXPO
Bayraktar highlighted the significance of SAHA EXPO’s growth, stating, “This year, the expo expanded to 90,000 square meters, hosting 1,478 companies, including 766 international and 712 domestic firms.”
He underscored how Türkiye’s defense industry has grown over the past two decades, contrasting the presence of only two local companies in past expos with today’s robust participation of firms showcasing national technologies.
Over 22,000 B2B meetings and global interest
The expo saw more than 22,467 business-to-business (B2B) meetings, with over 100,000 attendees. A total of 213 products were exhibited for the first time. “The total value of the agreements signed during the event amounted to $6.189 billion, of which $4.332 billion are export contracts,” Bayraktar noted, emphasizing that these figures exclude additional deals made during the meetings.
Expanding Türkiye’s defense ecosystem
Bayraktar emphasized the role of SAHA Istanbul in promoting private sector involvement in defense, aerospace and space industries, saying: “Our goal is to bring cost-effective and sustainable solutions to these sectors.
SAHA Istanbul has successfully enabled the participation of medium, small-scale enterprises, research institutions, and universities, making them more visible in this ecosystem.”
Türkiye’s growing defense industry
He also noted the importance of strong foreign participation, underscoring Türkiye’s revolutionary steps in defense over the last 20 years. “These advancements, seen across all sectors, from main platforms to subsystems, are key to driving the industry forward. Ensuring sustainability requires strong internal dynamics and robust export capabilities,” Bayraktar added.
