At the press conference, it was reported that a decision was taken to institutionalize and make the IGEF Homeland Security Equipment Fair, which was organized for the first time in 2024 under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior, permanent.

At the meeting, Zeki Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Expolink Fuarcılık, emphasized that Turkey has strong fairs in the field of defense industry, and noted that there is a lack of fairs for internal security, and that they want to complete this with İGEF.

Emphasizing that the buyers in the field of security are different from those in the general defence industry and that a fair in Ankara would be more appropriate due to the public-dominated structure, Erdoğan stated that they are not an alternative to other fairs in the defence industry and that they want to complete a missing piece in terms of fair organization in the field of security.

Cafer Sayılır, President of the Association of Weapon Industrialists and Explosive Materials Businessmen, said the following at the meeting: “We represent the private sector of the Internal Security Equipment Fair. All arms and ammunition manufacturers in Turkey are members of our association. Of course, since we are the private sector, all companies that play an active role in the defense industry, which has developed especially in recent years, are within our association. This Homeland Security Equipment Fair, which we started together with Mr. Zeki, was organized for the first time this year, in September. It was very successful. We were expecting international participation, and so it was. Of course, our sector is used to these fairs. We also participate in fairs abroad all the time. There is something like this in fairs abroad: When we look at the big developed countries, there are always three-legged fairs organized in countries such as America, France, Germany and Italy. What are these? Defense industry, internal security fair, hunting and nature sports fair. These are fairs that complement each other. Why is that? If we go from the bottom upwards? First, recognizing weapons and ammunition. Then internal security; for the peace and security of the country. And then the defense industry, a sector that develops to protect the country against attacks from abroad. Of course, we were doing these things properly, but our internal security fair was missing in Turkey. With the support of Mr. Zeki and Expolink Fuarcılık, it was held for the first time this year and we think it was very successful. We had guests coming from abroad and they liked it very much. I would like to inform you that it will be continued and that there will be a fair with more participants in the coming years and that as an association we will support this fair forever.”

Zeki Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Expolink Fuarcılık, pointed out that they organized the İGEF exhibition to contribute to the defence industry and Turkey, and said that they came together to receive the suggestions of the defence industry press for future exhibitions.

E. Colonel Atilla Önal, Deputy Director General of the Gendarmerie Public Security Foundation, said that İGEF’24 was a good event, that the participation was not at the level they expected due to the fact that it was organized in a very short time, but that the guests from abroad were satisfied and that they aim to make the next fairs with wider participation and more comprehensive.

IGEF 2024

While 72 companies participated in the Internal Security Equipment Fair IGEF 2024, which was organized comprehensively for the first time in the field of internal security equipment, weapons, ammunition, tools, equipment, software, cameras, security technologies and services, cyber security and private security, more than 12 thousand visitors were reached. From abroad, 282 foreign participants from 25 countries were hosted as purchasing delegations. For IGEF 2025, for which preparations have started, Internal security bureaucrats, procurement delegations and officials from 83 countries were officially invited. More than 200 exhibitors and nearly 20 thousand visitors are expected at IGEF 2025, which will take place at Ankara ATO Fair and Congress Center on September 18-20, 2025. The fair, which will be organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior and supported by prominent institutions, is on its way to becoming an international platform where professionals who want to establish business contacts around the world meet.

Under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior and supported by the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey, Presidency of Defense Industries, Turkish National Police, Gendarmerie General Command, Coast Guard Command, AFAD, ATO and organized by Expolink Fuarcılık A.Ş., the Internal Security Equipment Fair (IGEF) was held at ATO Congresium in Ankara. The press conference, which was attended by Izzet Tuna, General Manager of the Turkish Police Organization Strengthening Foundation (TPTGV), Atilla Önal, Deputy General Manager of the Gendarmerie Public Order Foundation (JAV), Mehmet Cafer Sayılır, President of the Association of Arms Industrialists and Explosive Materials Businessmen (SİSİAD) and Zeki Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Expolink Fuarcılık, was followed by nearly 50 press members from local, sectoral and national media organizations.

Turkey’s domestic security-oriented fair

Noting that hosting such an organization is extremely important for Turkey, Zeki Erdoğan, Chairman of the Board of Expolink Fuarcılık, said that fairs that contribute to our export targets have serious positive effects on national projects and industrial development. Emphasizing that İGEF is not an alternative to other fairs in the defence industry, Erdoğan said: “Turkey has very strong fairs in the field of defence industry. While fairs related to internal security are organized in many countries around the world, only two defence fairs have become brands in our country. The need for a comprehensive roof fair where the companies that produce and supply the needs of our Ministry of Interior can show their products in the domestic and foreign markets gave birth to İGEF. I would like to thank the support given by the institutions and sector companies, especially our Ministry of Interior and Presidency of Defense Industry, in order to turn the fair deficiency in the field of internal security into an important fair of our region by creating the IGEF brand.”

“Domestic production is essential for independence”

Mehmet Cafer Sayılır, President of the Association of Arms Industrialists and Explosives Businessmen (SİSİAD), also mentioned the importance of the domestic and national defense industry and said: “Turkey must produce for self-defense and independence. When the arms industry is dependent on foreign countries, foreign countries impose embargoes on various grounds. Today, the Turkish military and the Turkish police use approximately 80% of locally and nationally produced weapons and ammunition. İGEF is very valuable in terms of contributing to the development of domestic production, national industry and exports.”

İGEF 2025 will be opened in Ankara on September 18.

While 72 companies participated in the Internal Security Equipment Fair IGEF 2024, which was organized comprehensively for the first time in the field of internal security equipment, weapons, ammunition, tools, equipment, software, cameras, security technologies and services, cyber security and private security, over 12 thousand visitors were reached. From abroad, 282 foreign participants from 25 countries were hosted as purchasing delegations. For IGEF 2025, for which preparations have started, Internal security bureaucrats, procurement delegations and officials from 83 countries were officially invited. More than 200 exhibitors and nearly 20 thousand visitors are expected at IGEF 2025, which will take place at Ankara ATO Fair and Congress Center on September 18-20, 2025. The fair, which will be organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior and supported by prominent institutions, is on its way to becoming an international platform where professionals who want to establish business contacts around the world meet.

2024 is organized under the auspices of the Ministry of Interior with the support of the Turkish Police Organization Strengthening Foundation (TPTGV) and the Weapons Industry Explosives and Businessmen Association (SİSİAD). The exhibition promotes international cooperation on homeland security issues by showcasing the latest innovations, products and services in the sector. Bringing together senior law enforcement officials, relevant bureaucrats and security equipment suppliers from Turkey and abroad, the event provides a meeting point where important internal security issues are discussed and the latest technologies are showcased.

IGEF 2024 is organized to contribute to the opening of the security sector to foreign markets in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, the Balkans, the Black Sea countries and the Turkic Republics, where Turkey has strong geographical, cultural and historical ties.