Speaking at the opening ceremony, which was also attended by OSSA Board Members Muhsin MARDİN and Taha KÜÇÜKPAZARLI, the President of the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. İsmail Demir, said:
"Boeing has consistently awarded certain contracts to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ/TAI) and other Turkish companies in Turkey, but Turkey remains largely a country that manufactures specific parts for Boeing. When you visit Boeing and see the 747s, they immediately take you to the landing gear cover and say, 'The landing gear cover was made in Turkey.' You take a photo in front of it. It's a nice part, but landing gear covers, elevators? I think we need to go far beyond that; we need to raise the bar. And I believe it will rise as we see the capabilities in this country. I think the Boeing Turkey Engineering and Technology Center is a sign of this. Turkey should be more than just a country used as a subcontractor, a manufacturer in the supply chain, and one that can only manufacture when it has a price advantage."
He spoke as follows.
