Director of Türkiye Vaccine Institute Prof Ateş Kara gave information about the TURKOVAC vaccine in the special session held at the end of the two-day summit at Hilton Istanbul Bakırköy.

Stating that TURKOVAC is effective against COVID-19 and has no side effects, Prof Kara said that the safety records for a domestic and national vaccine are very high.

Pointing out that the most important point in vaccines is the protection against the virus and the absence of unwanted side effects, Kara stated that the development work on TURKOVAC continues.

Director of Türkiye Biotechnology Institute Assoc Prof Rabia Çakır Koç stated that TURKOVAC is an inactivated vaccine and that Türkiye is now capable of developing a vaccine with the help of TURKOVAC.

During the special session, ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN, and TAI officials presented the works done in the Turkish defence industry.

Director of the ASELSAN Research Centre and Technology Management Ali Ekiz provided an overview of ASELSAN’s structure, the scope of activities and efforts, highlighting the continuation of exports despite the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Director of HAVELSAN for North Africa Vural Erol said that they are working in the domains of defence, simulation, informatics, national security, and cyber security and that they wish to expand their collaboration with African countries in these areas.

ROKETSAN Marketing Engineer Hakan Aktulga shared details on the company's work and production areas, which was founded in 1988 and employs 3900 people now.

TAI (TUSAŞ) Technical Manager Caner Şentürk, on the other hand, remarked that the company has progressed to the point where it can manufacture national and local items exclusive to Türkiye.

Şentürk emphasised how Türkiye has come a long way in the defence industry, citing TAI as one of the finest examples.

Following the session, the summit was concluded. (ILKHA)