Azerbaijan, Turkey pledge to boost defense industry coop
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a protocol on the expansion of cooperation in the defense industry during the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF-2013), which was held in Istanbul on May 7-10.
The document was undersigned by Azerbaijani Defense Industry Minister Yaver Jamalov and Turkish Undersecretary for Defense Industry Murad Bayar.
The Defense Industry Ministry says that Turkey's National Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz, who visited the Azerbaijani stand at the fair, said that cooperation is developing between the two countries in the defense industry as well as in other fields.
According to Yilmaz, this cooperation will strengthen the armed forces of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
Jamalov, for his part, said Turkey and Azerbaijan are developing joint projects on cooperation in the defense industry.
Furthermore, the Azerbaijani Defense Industry Ministry held talks and achieved general agreements with the delegations of countries including Italy, Poland, South Africa and Serbia.
The Azerbaijani ministry presented around 130 domestically produced defense goods at IDEF-2013, in particular, Gurza patrol vehicles, 7.62 х 54 millimeter Gurza machine guns, 7.62 х 51 millimeter Yalguzag sniper rifles, 7.62 х 54 millimeter attack machine guns of HP-7.62 type, Aerostar and Orbiter unmanned drones.
The ministry said that its defense industry goods showcased at the IDEF-2013 fair were of great interest for the attendees.
Also, during the event, the Azerbaijani ministry's representatives provided the delegations of other countries with detailed information on ADEX-2014 International Defense Industry Fair, which will be held in Azerbaijan next year, and invited them to participate at this event.
Some countries have already confirmed their participation at the ADEX-2014 fair.
Being the biggest defense industry fair in its region and one of the most popular fairs in the world, IDEF-2013 was held at the TÜYAP Fair and Exhibition Center under the auspices of the Turkish National Defense Ministry.
As the most comprehensive and important marketing platform of the defense industry, IDEF-2013 was attended by the leading companies of the defense industry, with more than 500 companies from 36 countries in attendance.
This event has become one of the most important regional cooperation platforms for keeping track of the technological developments, implementing supply programs, demonstration and introduction of modern vehicles, equipment and weapon systems.
The IDEF fair has been organized by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation since 1993. The Foundation organizes the IDEF once in every two years in Ankara or Istanbul.