Finnish Delegation Participated in the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF 2025) in Istanbul
A delegation from the Embassy of Finland in Ankara took part in the 17th International Defence Industry Fair, held in Istanbul from 22 to 27 July 2025. IDEF is one of the most significant events in the global defence sector and was hosted by the Turkish Ministry of National Defence. Ambassador Pirkko Hämäläinen, alongside representatives from the Embassy, the Defence Attaché’s Office, and Business Finland, participated in the fair. The Finnish delegation engaged actively in bilateral meetings, visited both Finnish and Turkish defence companies, and explored potential opportunities for collaboration between Finland and Türkiye in the defence sector.
IDEF attracted participation from 103 countries and welcomed over 120,000 visitors. The fair hosted 33 ministers, more than 120 deputy ministers and military commanders, and 219 official delegations from over 99 countries and international organizations. Over 1,700 companies were represented, including over 900 Turkish and over 400 international firms. National pavilions from Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, China, South Africa, and Pakistan stood out among the largest. Throughout the fair, more than 5,000 business-to-business meetings were organized. In total, 270 deals were signed, with an estimated total value of USD 9 billion. This highlights IDEF’s important role in promoting international cooperation and business development.
Some Finnish actors were present, representing Finland's high-tech defence expertise. Nammo Lapua Oy participated in cooperation with TARGET A.S. Noptel Oy and Emberion Oy were represented by their local partner, GESA Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti. The Finnish delegation held bilateral meetings and visited 12 companies. These included key Turkish defence firms such as TUSAŞ (TAI), HAVELSAN, STM, Savronik, ULAK, KİM Technologies, and Miilux, in addition to the Finnish exhibitors and their Turkish partners. The delegation also held talks with Finntürker consultants to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the Finnish and Turkish defence industries. These meetings provided valuable sectoral insights and highlighted promising areas for future collaboration.
Finland’s engagement at IDEF reflects a continuing commitment to international defence dialogue, innovation, and partnership. The fair offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties with Türkiye and promote Finnish expertise in high-tech defence solutions. The Embassy of Finland in Ankara looks forward to supporting deeper cooperation between Finnish and Turkish defence sectors in the years ahead.