SAHA EXPO: Rule the Technology, Shape the Future

Established 9 years ago to ensure the involvement and integration of private sector dynamism in the defence industry in Türkiye, SAHA Istanbul has progressively expanded to become the largest industrial cluster in both Türkiye and Europe. Our cluster, which aims to spark collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as academia, continues to strive towards its goals of fostering cooperation in the defence industry, financial efficiency, sustainability, synergy, export, and training.

This year, we will organize our SAHA EXPO exhibition, which is the most significant added value in supporting exports and domestic production. The current SAHA EXPO 2024 will welcome exhibitors and attendees across a 90,000 square meter venue, embracing the motto “Rule the Technology, Shape the Future.

The Evolving Defence and Aerospace Industry

The defence and aerospace industry is an ecosystem shaped by its own unique dynamics. Today, with the introduction of new technologies into the field, we see that both defence concepts and the elements that constitute security are constantly evolving. Countries that develop new technologies not only come to the forefront, but also have a solid economic structure through exports.

Even during the most challenging periods, such as the global pandemic, when the majority of public resources were directed towards addressing societal needs countries around the world did not reduce their spending on defence and security.

The Importance of High Technology in National Defence

Countries that catch up with the rapid advances in technology are making great gains not only in the military field but also in the economic sense. Recent regional conflicts and crises have once again demonstrated how critical the national defence capacity is high and innovative technologies are no longer just an option, but have become the cornerstones of our independence and strategic strength.

Türkiye’s Progress in Defence and Aerospace

With the strength we derive from the nationalisation vision we have strongly implemented, we are experiencing an important breakthrough process for full independence in the defence and aerospace sectors where high technology development is essential.

In the last 20 years, we have greatly reduced foreign dependency and moved from being a country that consumes high technology to a country that produces it. Today, we produce unmanned aerial and naval vehicles and warships that attract attention worldwide, and we offer many products with significant capabilities to the global market.

Economic Growth in the Defence Industry

While the turnover of our defence and aerospace industry was around 1 billion dollars in 2002, we have seen this figure reach 12 billion dollars in 2023. Likewise, our export figures as a country are constantly increasing. In 2023, our defence industry exports reached 5.5 billion dollars, and in 2024, we aim to increase this success even further and exceed the target of 6 billion dollars. The dynamism and bold, innovative strategies of our companies continue to strengthen and enhance our sector.

SAHA EXPO 2024: An International Platform

The 4th SAHA EXPO International Defence & Aerospace Industry Exhibition, which has been held since 2018 with the aim of opening Türkiye’s growing and developing defence and aerospace industry to the world and supporting the export efforts of companies, under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, with the support of the Ministry of National Defence and other relevant ministries and the Secretariat of Defence Industries.

At SAHA EXPO this year, we are preparing to bring together more than 1200 domestic and international companies and many official and commercial delegations from all corners of the world.

Exhibition Details and Expectations

This year, with the theme of ‘Rule the Technology, Shape the Future’, we will host our exhibitors and visitors on an area of 90 thousand square metres, with a growth of more than 50% compared to the previous exhibition. We expect new collaborations to be formed and new agreements to be signed that will carry our defence industry export figures even further.

Showcasing Türkiye’s Defence and Aerospace Potential

Serving as an international platform to showcase Türkiye’s rising defence and aerospace production potential and independent production power, our exhibition will feature many high-tech products of the defence, aerospace, maritime and space industries that are of strategic importance for the first time. We will provide the opportunity for our companies producing these products to meet with international exhibitors, official and commercial delegations.

A Comprehensive Event Beyond Just a Fair

We see this event not only as a fair, but also as a meeting where all stakeholders of the global ecosystem come together and share the latest technologies with B2B and G2G meetings, national and international panels leading the sector, signing ceremonies, various product launches, numerous official and trade delegations from all regions of the world, investor meetings, special programmes for entrepreneurs and FPV drone competitions.

SAHA Match: Facilitating Connections and Collaborations

With the artificial intelligence-supported SAHA Match platform designed to make it easier to establish connections and collaborations between exhibitors at SAHA EXPO 2024, we make it easier to establish connections and collaborations between exhibitors.

By enabling exhibitors to easily identify suitable manufacturers or potential customers, we aim to maximise the potential for collaboration.

Extended Exhibition Duration and Expectations

Finally, in order to provide more time for our visitors who want to see the domestic and national products of our defence industry up close, we are extending our exhibition from four days to five days this year, and the public days to two days, Friday and Saturday. This year, we expect more than 150 thousand guests to visit our exhibition.

Also read this: SAHA EXPO 2024: Türkiye’s Defense Might on Display

Shaping the Future Together

Within the framework of SAHA Istanbul’s vision of ‘We are stronger together’, SAHA EXPO 2024 will be the platform that we will realise together with our industrialists in the strongest way.

We would like to see everyone who wants to see the latest technological developments in the defence, aviation and space industry on site, and to open the doors of this new era, where those who shape technology will shape the future, at our great meeting.

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