IDEF’13 Eurasian Meeting
IDEF International Defence Industry Fairs have been conducted biannually and under the management and responsibility of Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TAFF) since 1993. The introductory meeting IDEF 2013 was held in Ankara with the participation of the Undersecretary for Defence Industries (SSM) Murad Bayar, TAFF General Manager Hayrettin Uzun, SSM Deputy Undersecretaries Dr. Faruk Özlü, Serdar Demirel, Orhan Öge, Sedat Güldoğan, Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association (SaSAD) Chairman of the Board Cengiz Ergeneman, SaSAD General Secretary Hüseyin Baysak, Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) officials, Embassies’ Military Attaches, Defence Industry companies’ representatives and press agents.
In his opening speech, TAFF General Manager Hayrettin Uzun stated that 11th of IDEF fairs shall be held on 7-10 May 2013 at Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in İstanbul. "TAFF has been successfully realized 10 IDEF fairs since 1993. As a ‘Eurasian Meeting’, IDEF is the biggest fair at the region and amongst top 5 in the world and has become a brand in recent years" said Uzun. At his speech, Uzun thanked Minister of National Defence İsmet Yılmaz as well as the managers of Undersecretariat for Defence Industries and Tüyap Fairs and Exhibitions Organization Inc. for their support and contribution.
IDEF’13 will go beyond the previous ones with the number of participants and expanded area
At the meeting, TAFF Fair Branch Manager Erdinç Soyak gave introductory briefing on IDEF 2013.Soyak stated that IDEF fair has become one of the significant marketing platforms in the world with a brand name of "Eurasian Meeting" and is amongst world’s top 5 international defence fairs. "The number of participants at 10th IDEF fair realized in 2011 was 633 with 37% increase compared to the previous one; the exhibition area was 23.509 meter square with 7% increase compared to the previous one. The number of senior management delegation of foreign countries responsible for defence procurement was 437 with 17% increase whereas it was 372 in the previous one" said Soyak.
Informing on IDEF 2011 figures, Soyak also stated that a total of 22 Ministers, 4 Chiefs of General Staff, 8 Deputy Chiefs of General Staff, 12 Deputy Ministers and 11 Undersecretaries participated in IDEF 2011. "One other important activity realized during IDEF 2011 was the meetings. Within this scope, a total of 21 separate meeting offices were prepared for the procurement units fromTurkish General Staff, Ministry of National Defence, Service Commands, Gendarmerie General Command, Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, Coast Guard Command and General Directorate of Security. A total of 2038 meetings were held between these authorities and participant companies and foreign delegations. In addition, several workshops, conferences and meetings were organized and 24 agreements were signed during the fair" said Soyak. Informing also on IDEF 2013 fair, Soyak mentioned that nearly 700 companies from 50 countries have confirmed their participation in the fair and defence ministers from 121 countries as well as procurement authorities were invited to the fair by the Minister of National Defence.
Companies will for the first time make technical presentations on products in IDEF’13
Following the introductory briefing made by TAFF Fair Branch Manager Erdinç Soyak, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar and TAFF General Manager Hayrettin Uzun answered the questions of press agents. TAFF General Manager Hayrettin Uzun informed about the advances and changes to be made this year and said: "IDEF fairs have always been introducing new preparations and arrangements. This year, the participant companies will have the opportunity to make technical presentations on their products for the first time. We will allocate 30 minutes to pre-applied companies for their technical product promotion activities. The advances and changes are not limited only with this. We will be selecting the most attractive stand this year by a professional jury and the selected company will be given a prize".
Israel and Syria were not invited to the fair
In question & answer session, TAFF General Manager Hayrettin Uzun shared information on new participant countries as well as uninvited countries. "France, Canada and Iran are amongst the countries invited but Israel and Syria were not invited to IDEF’13" said Uzun.
In his speech delivered at the meeting, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar remarked that IDEF fairs have recorded significant progress in recent years and said: "IDEF was a platform where only the foreign countries exhibited their products in the past whereas today it has become one of the world’s most important fairs which also introduces Turkish Defence Industry at international arena".
