The opening of the forum, which took place on October 9, 2024, at the Tawazun Council Defence Hall and brought together member companies of the UAE Defence Companies Council (EDCC) for cooperation talks, was attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Abu Dhabi, Tugay Tunçer; Military Attaché Colonel Gürsu Aytekin; Commercial Attaché in Abu Dhabi, Fundagül Bacı; OSSA Chairman of the Board İbrahim Yarsan; Tawazun Operations CEO Shareef Al Hashimi; EDCC Chairman of the Board Mona Ahmed Al Jaber; UAE Ministry of Defence Defence Sector Director Bedr Al Shehhi; and numerous company representatives.
The forum, attended by 23 OSSA member companies, highlighted the strength and regional importance of the Turkish defense industry. Nearly 120 bilateral business meetings were held between UAE and Turkish firms, where sectoral challenges and opportunities, as well as steps to enhance partnerships between the Republic of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, were discussed.
As part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between EDCC and OSSA to strengthen ties and cooperation between the two countries and to organize events, seminars, and meetings.
“We must seize opportunities”
Mona Ahmed Al Jaber, Chairperson of the EDCC Board of Directors, underlined the importance of relations between the two countries. Jaber stated, “We need to seize these opportunities to enhance cooperation between the two countries in the defense and aerospace sectors. The United Arab Emirates-Turkey Defense Industry Cooperation Forum provides an important platform for exchanging ideas and establishing partnerships.”
The importance of domestic production
OSSA Chairman of the Board, İbrahim Yarsan, emphasized the need to increase the share of domestic production in meeting the needs of the defense and aerospace sectors, as determined by the Ministry of National Defense. Yarsan pointed to the ability of OSSA members to represent Turkey in foreign markets and stressed the importance of increasing competitiveness in the international market through collaborative projects.
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