07:29 GMT, March 18, 2010 A joint defence industry and cooperation event organised by UK Trade & Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO) and The Turkish Undersecretariat for Defence Industries was successfully held in Ankara on 11-12 February 2010.

It brought together 20 UK and 40 Turkish companies for a day followed by Turkish Industry visits by the UK delegation. Each UK and Turkish delegates were given the opportunity to make a presentation of their business units to better understand the areas of cooperation. A further session offered the companies the chance to develop their business relationships and establish new contacts.

As part of the event a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Thales UK and Aselsan. This was witnessed by HMA David Reddaway (Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Turkey), CDM General Sir Kevin O’ Donoghue (Chief of Defence Materiel), Richard Paniguian (Head of UKTI DSO), and Murad Bayar (Undersecretary of Defence Industries) and Major General Beyazit Karatas (National Armament Director).

"This is an important step for Thales UK as we explore business synergies with Aselsan around weapon systems," says David Beatty, Managing Director of Thales UK’s weapons systems business.