Didem ARAL, Foreign Trade Manager and Member of Board of SYS
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) and its world-famous firearms brand CANiK continues to increase their international presence and work towards their goals.
“We attribute great value on the Brazilian Market”
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) and its world-famous firearms brand CANiK continues to increase their international presence and work towards their goals. Didem Aral, Foreign Trade Manager and Member of Board of SYS underlined that they export 95 percent of all their products to 69 countries and shared their future plans with us.
We see defense fairs picking up the pace around the world as the pandemic subsides. Can we get an evaluation regarding your efforts in this area?
Two tough years have passed after the start of pandemic for the defense sector, both in Türkiye and abroad. We were not able to meet face to face with many organizations, so we had to use digital channels to express ourselves. Some public applications or bids even turned fully digital. Of course, this process brought a new vision to traditional business world. Some of that will last for a while, surely. However, events, activities and face to face meetings will continue and speed up.
As CANiK brand, we plan to attend 22 fairs in total until the end of 2022. We will mostly focus on international fairs. We successfully attended fairs like SHOT Show that both checks the pulse of the American market and addresses to the European markets this year already. Of course, with the CANiK M2 QCB 12.7mm heavy machine gun being a part of our product line-up and then being mass produced gave us many opportunities and allowed us to take part in many more projects. We planned these opportunities before CANiK M2 QCB started mass production. We think we have been successful as our forecasts regarding the markets seem to be right. We planned for CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun demand, but we could not foresee it would be a demand at this high. We think the Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to this demand. With CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun, we got in touch with projects that may contribute to developing our capabilities to much higher levels. We are strengthening our capabilities regarding integrations with air, sea, and land platforms. CANiK started enjoying the attention with its pistols but continues its activities as a brand that is among the main contractors for defense industry. We also plan to be an international brand with CANiK and show our colors around the world. We are among the top four largest small arms manufacturers across the globe, and we wish to be number one and so we determined this as our vision. We continue with our strategies in line with this vision.
You are active with your CANiK Academy brand for the safe usage of firearms, both in Türkiye and in the global market. Can you share some insight on your training efforts across the globe?
Training and academy efforts are among our biggest dreams as CANiK. We are more than happy to accomplish it as well. Even though we are only at the beginning, I can happily say our training is getting plenty of attention both from Türkiye and abroad. We are offering training services in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, and Somalia. We started both armorer training and tactical training courses. We are also continuing to work with Gendarmerie and Police Special Operations in Türkiye. The demands have been changed in this sector significantly in 15 years. It was enough for us to provide the firearm and its holster 15 years ago, but today training is especially in demand. Training is one of the conditions in the public tender specifications. As CANiK Academy, we are doing our best to professionally meet this demand. Academy training is also crucial for responsible firearms ownership. We hope we will be able to ensure correct, safe, and conscious use of firearms in Türkiye in the next two years with CANiK Academy trainings. We are more than happy to receive feedback from those we train at our academy as well.
After the USA market, you began focusing on the other countries in the American Continent. Can you share the attention you enjoy and your investments in these countries?
Latin America is large and has some security problems. As CANiK, we drew attention as we offered new products unlike the already established brands and training services with our academy. We put great value in the Brazilian market in the Latin America, as it is a country with a great interest in using licensed firearms. Latin American countries are open to individual arming. This of course makes companies like us to pay attention to this area. We had attended a fair in Chile, one of the most prominent countries in the Americas, and we signed important preliminary contracts in this fair. We will be getting together with our clients and regional representatives in August as a part of a fair in Brazil.
Can you share your 2022 export targets in regard with your efforts?
According to the “Top 1000 Exporters of Türkiye 2020 Prestige Book” prepared by Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM), total exports of said 1,000 companies reached $92.6 billion for that year. SYS exports 95 percent of its products to 69 countries, and we saw a 126 percent increase in our export revenue compared to 2019 in 2020, reaching $49.8 million. We also saw a great leap forward in our placement, 600 places up in one year, and we reached the 368th place. We believe we will be in better position when the 2021 numbers are announced. We also are upgrading our 2022 export targets, as our investments in the USA will have been concluded and our CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun will be in the market.
Can you share the features that make the CANiK brand stand out in international competition?
We are bringing a fresh breath of air and plenty of innovation to the sector, especially with new generations pistols, new systems, academy trainings, smart weapon systems, and more. These are our most prominent characteristics. In addition, we follow up on sales very closely. We set up an integrated logistics services department for this reason. With this department, all CANiK products are tracked independently of the end-user. We provide after sales services and maintenance. Overall, advanced technology, academy, and after sales services brings CANiK to the fore in the competition.
Countries that CANiK provides training services to:
• Türkiye
• USA
• Poland
• Philippines
• Somalia
• Brazil
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
Organizations that CANiK provides training services to:
• USA (CenturyArms)
• South Africa (Representatives)(ZA)
• Polish Law Enforcement Forces (POL)
• Philippine National Police (PH)
• Brazil (Civil Users and Representatives) (BRE)
• Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (SO)
• Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore (SGP)
• Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (SGP)
• Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy (TR)
• Police Special Operations (TR)
• Nurol Holding (TR)
• Counter Narcotics Training Academy (TR)
• Turkish Naval Forces Command (TR)
• Azerbaijani Customs and Border Protection (AZ)
References:
• Nurol Holding (TR)
• Counter Narcotics Training Academy (TR)
Samsun Yurt Savunma (SYS) and its world-famous firearms brand CANiK continues to increase their international presence and work towards their goals. Didem Aral, Foreign Trade Manager and Member of Board of SYS underlined that they export 95 percent of all their products to 69 countries and shared their future plans with us.
We see defense fairs picking up the pace around the world as the pandemic subsides. Can we get an evaluation regarding your efforts in this area?
Two tough years have passed after the start of pandemic for the defense sector, both in Türkiye and abroad. We were not able to meet face to face with many organizations, so we had to use digital channels to express ourselves. Some public applications or bids even turned fully digital. Of course, this process brought a new vision to traditional business world. Some of that will last for a while, surely. However, events, activities and face to face meetings will continue and speed up.
As CANiK brand, we plan to attend 22 fairs in total until the end of 2022. We will mostly focus on international fairs. We successfully attended fairs like SHOT Show that both checks the pulse of the American market and addresses to the European markets this year already. Of course, with the CANiK M2 QCB 12.7mm heavy machine gun being a part of our product line-up and then being mass produced gave us many opportunities and allowed us to take part in many more projects. We planned these opportunities before CANiK M2 QCB started mass production. We think we have been successful as our forecasts regarding the markets seem to be right. We planned for CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun demand, but we could not foresee it would be a demand at this high. We think the Russian invasion of Ukraine contributed to this demand. With CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun, we got in touch with projects that may contribute to developing our capabilities to much higher levels. We are strengthening our capabilities regarding integrations with air, sea, and land platforms. CANiK started enjoying the attention with its pistols but continues its activities as a brand that is among the main contractors for defense industry. We also plan to be an international brand with CANiK and show our colors around the world. We are among the top four largest small arms manufacturers across the globe, and we wish to be number one and so we determined this as our vision. We continue with our strategies in line with this vision.
You are active with your CANiK Academy brand for the safe usage of firearms, both in Türkiye and in the global market. Can you share some insight on your training efforts across the globe?
Training and academy efforts are among our biggest dreams as CANiK. We are more than happy to accomplish it as well. Even though we are only at the beginning, I can happily say our training is getting plenty of attention both from Türkiye and abroad. We are offering training services in countries like the Philippines, Singapore, and Somalia. We started both armorer training and tactical training courses. We are also continuing to work with Gendarmerie and Police Special Operations in Türkiye. The demands have been changed in this sector significantly in 15 years. It was enough for us to provide the firearm and its holster 15 years ago, but today training is especially in demand. Training is one of the conditions in the public tender specifications. As CANiK Academy, we are doing our best to professionally meet this demand. Academy training is also crucial for responsible firearms ownership. We hope we will be able to ensure correct, safe, and conscious use of firearms in Türkiye in the next two years with CANiK Academy trainings. We are more than happy to receive feedback from those we train at our academy as well.
After the USA market, you began focusing on the other countries in the American Continent. Can you share the attention you enjoy and your investments in these countries?
Latin America is large and has some security problems. As CANiK, we drew attention as we offered new products unlike the already established brands and training services with our academy. We put great value in the Brazilian market in the Latin America, as it is a country with a great interest in using licensed firearms. Latin American countries are open to individual arming. This of course makes companies like us to pay attention to this area. We had attended a fair in Chile, one of the most prominent countries in the Americas, and we signed important preliminary contracts in this fair. We will be getting together with our clients and regional representatives in August as a part of a fair in Brazil.
Can you share your 2022 export targets in regard with your efforts?
According to the “Top 1000 Exporters of Türkiye 2020 Prestige Book” prepared by Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TİM), total exports of said 1,000 companies reached $92.6 billion for that year. SYS exports 95 percent of its products to 69 countries, and we saw a 126 percent increase in our export revenue compared to 2019 in 2020, reaching $49.8 million. We also saw a great leap forward in our placement, 600 places up in one year, and we reached the 368th place. We believe we will be in better position when the 2021 numbers are announced. We also are upgrading our 2022 export targets, as our investments in the USA will have been concluded and our CANiK M2 QCB heavy machine gun will be in the market.
Can you share the features that make the CANiK brand stand out in international competition?
We are bringing a fresh breath of air and plenty of innovation to the sector, especially with new generations pistols, new systems, academy trainings, smart weapon systems, and more. These are our most prominent characteristics. In addition, we follow up on sales very closely. We set up an integrated logistics services department for this reason. With this department, all CANiK products are tracked independently of the end-user. We provide after sales services and maintenance. Overall, advanced technology, academy, and after sales services brings CANiK to the fore in the competition.
Countries that CANiK provides training services to:
• Türkiye
• USA
• Poland
• Philippines
• Somalia
• Brazil
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Azerbaijan
• Bangladesh
Organizations that CANiK provides training services to:
• USA (CenturyArms)
• South Africa (Representatives)(ZA)
• Polish Law Enforcement Forces (POL)
• Philippine National Police (PH)
• Brazil (Civil Users and Representatives) (BRE)
• Somalia National Intelligence and Security Agency (SO)
• Central Narcotics Bureau of Singapore (SGP)
• Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (SGP)
• Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy (TR)
• Police Special Operations (TR)
• Nurol Holding (TR)
• Counter Narcotics Training Academy (TR)
• Turkish Naval Forces Command (TR)
• Azerbaijani Customs and Border Protection (AZ)
References:
• Nurol Holding (TR)
• Counter Narcotics Training Academy (TR)
