Turkey, Airbus sign cooperation MoU

By Gokhan Yildiz and Elif Ferhan Yesilyurt

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industry and European aeronautical products manufacturer Airbus have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation.

"We (Turkey) set a $5-billion goal. This goal is very difficult to reach, but I'm sure that this goal will be achieved and Airbus will invest more in Turkish industry for production, engineering and services," Turkish Defense Industry Undersecretary Ismail Demir said in a meeting, titled The Strategic Cooperation in Turkey.

Demir stated that Turkey attributes high importance to development of technology and aviation.

Meanwhile, Airbus Chief Human Resources Officer Thierry Baril said that they are proud of taking the cooperation with Turkish partners to a new level.

Separately, Baril stated that Airbus' financial turnover in Turkey in 2004 was almost $24 million and it boosted by 11 times to reach $280 million in 2017.

In early January, Airbus and Turkish Airlines, the country's national flag carrier, signed a non-binding agreement on potential order for 20+5 wide-bodied aircrafts during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to France.