SEDEC 2024- Border & Homeland Security EXPO Will be Held from May 21-23
Defence Turkey: Mrs. ÜNAL, what would you like to say about the founding purpose and vision of SEDEC?
Hilal ÜNAL: SEDEC is Turkiye's first and only exhibition specifically dedicated to Homeland and Border Security. We successfully organized the first SEDEC in 2018. SEDEC exhibitions are held biennially and cover a wide range of sectors, including Homeland and Border Security, Coastal Security, Internal Security, Satellite Security, Urban Security, and Security Communication. In our inaugural event in 2018, we brought together defense and security procurement authorities from 39 countries, along with high-level officials. At this event, we successfully united Turkish security and defense industry manufacturers with relevant institutions. Unfortunately, due to pandemic restrictions, our second exhibition, SEDEC 2020, had to be held online from September 17-20, 2020. Despite the challenges, it saw opening speeches from senior officials from Pakistan and Indonesia and attracted participation from 254 companies from 24 countries. SEDEC 2022, held from June 28-30, 2022, concluded successfully with the participation of 186 companies and organizations from 51 countries, resulting in a total of 5800 planned meetings.
At SEDEC, we aim to bring together procurement authorities responsible for homeland security with industry professionals operating in the security sector and defense supply chain. Thus, creating direct communication and collaboration opportunities for both sides. As the SEDEC platform, we aim not only to meet the needs of our country but also to strengthen international cooperation by bringing together our industry professionals with procurement authorities and purchasing delegations from over 60 countries. SEDEC also serves as a unique platform for showcasing our country's potential in innovation, security, and technology to the world. Introducing future security technologies and the latest innovations to our participants is one of our primary objectives.
Defence Turkey: So, what sets SEDEC apart from other exhibitions?
Hilal ÜNAL: While displaying products and opening booths are prominent in other exhibitions, our focus at SEDEC is primarily on B2B/B2G bilateral meetings. Our organization plans and conducts these bilateral meetings in advance during the event. We aim to bring together procurement authorities seeking suitable solutions for changing threat perceptions with industry professionals who can provide these solutions, thereby growing and developing the sector and increasing our exports in this field. Additionally, one of our significant advantages is that this fair is held in Ankara. As you may know, our Army, Navy, and Air Force Commands and their affiliated units, as well as the Gendarmerie General Command, the General Directorate of Security, and the Secretariat of Defence Industries, are all headquartered in Ankara. Furthermore, the main companies of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV) and many SMEs and auxiliary industry companies operating in this field are also based in Ankara. This provides us with a significant opportunity for industry professionals, procurement authorities, purchasing units, and delegations from abroad to come together.
Defence Turkey: Mrs. ÜNAL, could you briefly discuss the content and significance of the conference scheduled for the first day of SEDEC?
Hilal ÜNAL: In our conference scheduled for the first day, topics such as homeland security technologies, border security technologies, supply chain in security technologies, and satellite systems within the scope of secure communication will be discussed. The conference will feature participation from our procurement authorities, such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Defence, Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), SSI, and BTK, as well as our TSKGV companies that lead the national defence industry of our country, including Aselsan, TUSAŞ, Havelsan, Roketsan, Aspilsan, İşbir, HTR, MKEK, ASFAT, STM, and ULAK, alongside representatives of international companies such as Airbus, Tawazun, Telespazio, Leonardo, Thales, and Lockheed Martin. In addition to that, delegations from over 60 countries, procurement and purchasing delegations, and many valuable industry professionals from various fields will also be participating in our event. These meetings are truly important and valuable for our industry professionals. Procurement authorities will articulate their expectations from the industry as guiding principles, while panels will be organized to share insights with participants on the current state and future trajectory of technology in the security sector and the world at large.
SEDEC 2024 will be held in between 21st to 23rd May in Ankara. The event will gather procurement authorities, military and defense officials as well as industry professionals for homeland & Border Security once again. As Defence Turkey Magazine we talked with SEDEC President Hilal ÜNAL about their expectations SEDEC 2024 in advance of the EXPO.
Defence Turkey: Mrs. ÜNAL, what would you like to say about the founding purpose and vision of SEDEC?
Hilal ÜNAL: SEDEC is Turkiye's first and only exhibition specifically dedicated to Homeland and Border Security. We successfully organized the first SEDEC in 2018. SEDEC exhibitions are held biennially and cover a wide range of sectors, including Homeland and Border Security, Coastal Security, Internal Security, Satellite Security, Urban Security, and Security Communication. In our inaugural event in 2018, we brought together defense and security procurement authorities from 39 countries, along with high-level officials. At this event, we successfully united Turkish security and defense industry manufacturers with relevant institutions. Unfortunately, due to pandemic restrictions, our second exhibition, SEDEC 2020, had to be held online from September 17-20, 2020. Despite the challenges, it saw opening speeches from senior officials from Pakistan and Indonesia and attracted participation from 254 companies from 24 countries. SEDEC 2022, held from June 28-30, 2022, concluded successfully with the participation of 186 companies and organizations from 51 countries, resulting in a total of 5800 planned meetings.
At SEDEC, we aim to bring together procurement authorities responsible for homeland security with industry professionals operating in the security sector and defense supply chain. Thus, creating direct communication and collaboration opportunities for both sides. As the SEDEC platform, we aim not only to meet the needs of our country but also to strengthen international cooperation by bringing together our industry professionals with procurement authorities and purchasing delegations from over 60 countries. SEDEC also serves as a unique platform for showcasing our country's potential in innovation, security, and technology to the world. Introducing future security technologies and the latest innovations to our participants is one of our primary objectives.
Defence Turkey: So, what sets SEDEC apart from other exhibitions?
Hilal ÜNAL: While displaying products and opening booths are prominent in other exhibitions, our focus at SEDEC is primarily on B2B/B2G bilateral meetings. Our organization plans and conducts these bilateral meetings in advance during the event. We aim to bring together procurement authorities seeking suitable solutions for changing threat perceptions with industry professionals who can provide these solutions, thereby growing and developing the sector and increasing our exports in this field. Additionally, one of our significant advantages is that this fair is held in Ankara. As you may know, our Army, Navy, and Air Force Commands and their affiliated units, as well as the Gendarmerie General Command, the General Directorate of Security, and the Secretariat of Defence Industries, are all headquartered in Ankara. Furthermore, the main companies of the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (TSKGV) and many SMEs and auxiliary industry companies operating in this field are also based in Ankara. This provides us with a significant opportunity for industry professionals, procurement authorities, purchasing units, and delegations from abroad to come together.
Defence Turkey: Mrs. ÜNAL, could you briefly discuss the content and significance of the conference scheduled for the first day of SEDEC?
Hilal ÜNAL: In our conference scheduled for the first day, topics such as homeland security technologies, border security technologies, supply chain in security technologies, and satellite systems within the scope of secure communication will be discussed. The conference will feature participation from our procurement authorities, such as the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of National Defence, Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), SSI, and BTK, as well as our TSKGV companies that lead the national defence industry of our country, including Aselsan, TUSAŞ, Havelsan, Roketsan, Aspilsan, İşbir, HTR, MKEK, ASFAT, STM, and ULAK, alongside representatives of international companies such as Airbus, Tawazun, Telespazio, Leonardo, Thales, and Lockheed Martin. In addition to that, delegations from over 60 countries, procurement and purchasing delegations, and many valuable industry professionals from various fields will also be participating in our event. These meetings are truly important and valuable for our industry professionals. Procurement authorities will articulate their expectations from the industry as guiding principles, while panels will be organized to share insights with participants on the current state and future trajectory of technology in the security sector and the world at large.
SEDEC 2024
SEDEC focuses on the defense sub-supply chain, with a primary focus on homeland security, border security, and urban security systems. Each country organizes defense and security events separately because the dynamics of the defense industry and security sector supply chains are quite distinct.
The defense industry encompasses a range of product groups, including maritime, land, and air platforms, defense systems, and technologies. While the defense industry has its own unique workings and dynamics, the security sector involves higher technology, encompassing many technologies from urban security to individual safety.
Companies operating in homeland, border, and urban security quickly adapt technological advancements to their products and introduce new products to the market every 4-5 months due to the dynamic nature of the sector and competition. The security sector differentiates itself from the defense industry with its unique dynamics and ecosystem. Given these differences, different approaches are needed to develop this sector in any country. To this end, companies operating in this field come together with delegations from countries at global events such as Milipol in France, Shotshow in America, and IWA & Enforce Tac in Germany. In Turkiye, however, SEDEC emerged with the aim of developing the homeland security sector and connecting companies in the sector with the right buyers. As a non-public and B2B/B2G-focused event, SEDEC matches procurement authorities and companies in the supply chain using special software that categorizes needs accurately, ensuring productive meetings with this purpose in mind.
In conclusion, SEDEC is a platform established to develop the defense and security sectors and increase exports. It offers a special approach by considering the dynamics of different sectors, bringing procurement authorities and the supply chain together to promote collaboration and development in the sector.
