Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 12
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
In January-August 2019, the export of goods of Turkey's defense industry increased by 38.2 percent compared to the same period in 2018, and amounted to $1.691 billion, Trend reports referring to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM).
As TIM noted, the export of defense industry in the reported period accounted to 1.4 percent of total exports of Turkey.
In August 2019, exports of Turkish defense industry goods grew by 46.5 percent compared to August 2018, having amounted to $175.400 million or 1.3 percent of total exports in August of the current year.
As stated earlier by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey will strengthen its defense industry and become a global leader in the manufacture of defense products.
"I instruct all law enforcement agencies to refuse to import defense industry products. Turkey is able to provide itself with relevant products," Erdogan said.
The head of state noted that the country will begin mass production of the domestic "Altay" tank in the near future.
In recent years, Turkey has invested about $35 billion in its defense industry.
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