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For the first time, Syria is participating in Türkiye’s Teknofest aerospace and technology festival, with officials and entrepreneurs presenting it as an opportunity to reintroduce Syrian innovation to regional and global markets.
The 13th edition of Teknofest opened Wednesday at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation (T3) under the patronage of the Industry and Technology Ministry. Anadolu is serving as the festival’s global communications partner.
Wassim al-Omar, secretary to Syria’s deputy economy and industry minister, said Damascus views the event as more than a trade show. “It is a gateway for Syrian industries to showcase their potential and build cooperation with Turkish and international companies,” he told Anadolu. “Being here is a milestone. Syria is part of the regional conversation on technology and innovation.”
Among the exhibitors is AvioTech, a Syrian-founded company based in Türkiye’s Gaziantep province. Founder Hussein Ali introduced the firm’s first fully Syrian-made drone, designed for agricultural use.
“The model on display can carry 35 liters of pesticides or seeds,” he said. “It was built entirely by Syrian engineers, and we are already working on new civilian applications, from firefighting to parcel delivery.”
Ali said Teknofest offers vital opportunities to connect with suppliers of batteries and motors and voiced hope of eventually establishing a production line in Syria.
Another exhibitor, Afko, specializes in pivot irrigation systems. Company representative Homam Afoura said their machines can cover plots larger than 30 hectares and are exported to more than 60 countries.
“Our goal is to transfer this know-how back to Syria to strengthen food security and boost agricultural output,” Afoura said.
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Running through Sept. 21, Teknofest features competitions in 58 main and 137 sub-categories across aerospace, robotics and advanced manufacturing. The festival also includes educational workshops and entertainment.
Held annually since 2018, Teknofest has grown into one of the world’s largest aerospace and technology events. Last year’s edition drew nearly 11 million visitors.
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