The Deputy Minister of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Bantu Holomisa, has encouraged South African businesses participating in the 17th International Defense Industry in Turkiye to seize the opportunity to actively promote their products and services in order to grow South Africa’s defense industry.
Holomisa visited the South African National Pavilion where the businesspeople are showcasing their proudly South African products and services. The fair which started on Tuesday, 22 July 2025 will end on Sunday 27 July 2025.
The participation of these companies is facilitated by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme, which funds the development of exporters, enabling them to explore new markets and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into South Africa.
“I am pleased that the defence industry companies supported by the dtic including DENEL and the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) are here to showcase South Africa’s capabilities and I wish them all the best,” said Holomisa.
Holomisa encouraged the businesspeople to invite their counterparts to the Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries Association of South Africa (AMD) fair in 2026. This he said would allow them to appreciate the country’s defence sector’s capabilities and advance collaborative opportunities by way of technology transfer and industrial growth.
Holomisa welcomed the dtic’s support in helping the defence industry explore export opportunities in new regions. He urged businesspeople to be visionary, work collaboratively, and drive innovation to enhance competitiveness and operational efficiency.
IDEF 2025 is an internationally acclaimed event showcasing the latest technological advancements and products in the defence industry. This premier exhibition brings together leading figures in the defence sector, offering a significant platform for South Africa to display its defence capabilities and build strategic partnerships with key role-players in Turkiye, as well as with participants from other high-growth markets across Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Speaking ahead of the exhibition, the Acting Deputy Director- General of the Exports Branch at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mr Willem van der Spuy said the decision to participate in IDEF 2025 forms part of South Africa’s broader export diversification strategy, which seeks to expand the export of value-added products and services in key industrial policy sectors to global markets, including new dynamic and high-growth destinations.
The Deputy Minister of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Mr Bantu Holomisa interacting with South African businesspeople that operate in the defence sector and are showcasing at IDEF 2025 currently taking place in Istanbul, Türkiye.
A group of South African companies that operate in the defence sector will participate in the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF), taking place in Istanbul, Turkey, from 22-27 July 2025.
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Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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