Istanbul: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on Monday that Turkish companies produce two out of every three drones sold globally. This came during his speech at an event organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly in Istanbul, where he said that successive Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments have successfully positioned Turkiye among the leading countries in both armed and unarmed drone technology.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Erdogan highlighted that Baykar, Turkiye's leading drone manufacturer, generated USD 1.8 billion in export revenue in 2024, making it the top drone exporter worldwide. A report by the US-based Center for a New American Security (CNAS), published in September 2024, noted that Turkey holds 65 percent of the global drone export market.
On the broader economic front, Erdogan praised the growth of Turkish exports and expressed the goal of increasing the share of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries in total Turkish exports to 30 percent. He also noted that annual inflation dropped to 35.41 percent in May, the lowest in three and a half years, and forecasted inflation to fall into the 20 percent range by the end of 2025.