ISLAMABAD – Turkey’s leading defense giant, Turkish Aerospace Industries(TAI) has opened its first office in Pakistan at the country’s NationalScience & Technology Park.
This is one of Pakistan’s first technology park which is expected to makesignificant contributions to the country’s technological development.
“We are the first Turkish defense firm to open an office in Pakistan’sfirst technopark,” TAI Marketing and Communications Director Serdar Demirsaid in a statement to Anadolu Agency (AA).
The technopark was inaugurated by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, whoalso visited the TAI office. “We informed the Pakistani prime ministerabout the cooperation opportunities and the projects that TAI aims to carryout in Pakistan. Turkey is one of the six countries to have an office inPakistan’s first technopark,” Demir said, adding that the company will alsoassess cooperation opportunities with Pakistani universities.
Demir highlighted TAI’s deal to sell 30 T129 ATAK helicopters to Pakistanand the company’s aim to positively conclude the ongoing process. He notedthat the firm is in negotiations with the country over other defenseplatforms.
TAI and Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production signed a deal last Julyto export 30 attack and reconnaissance helicopters. The Turkish defensefirm has assumed extensive responsibility in terms of logistics, spareparts, training, and ammunition.
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TAI maintains its efforts to extend multidimensional cooperation withPakistan and to that end has welcomed 15 students from the country’sNational University of Science and Technology University – listed among theworld’s top 500 science and tech universities.
“The students came to our company and received month-long training,benefiting from the expertise of our engineers. With this project, we havetaken future-oriented steps and brought together Turkish and Pakistaniyouth who will be the decision-makers in future projects,” Demir said.
Just a few weeks ago, another Turkish defense company, ASELSAN (AskeriElektronik Sanayi, Military Electronic Industries) had decided to establishits offices in Pakistan from January 1, 2020.
Turkey and Pakistan are old allies who have a close and harmoniousrelationship. The recent consolidation of defense interests signifies aconvergence of the national interests of both the nations.
