Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
Turkey has reached self-sufficiency in defense products by more than 62 percent, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said.
“This indicator is very important, but still insufficient,” Erdogan added, Trend reports referring to the Turkish media.
The president also stressed that Turkey will further strengthen the national defense industry.
Earlier, President Erdogan said that Turkey will strengthen the defense industry and become the world leader in production of defense products.
“No obstacles can stop the development of the defense industry in Turkey,” the president said. "I personally instruct all security forces not to import defense products from abroad. Turkey is able to provide itself with these products."
During 11 months of 2018, export of the Turkish defense products increased by 16.05 percent and reached $1.782 billion compared to the same period of 2017.
Turkish defense products worth $150.5 million were exported to Oman in January-November 2018.
During the reporting period, the Turkish defense products worth $72.3 million were exported to the Netherlands and defense products worth $71.6 million to India.
Turkey has recently invested about $35 billion in the defense industry.
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