By Erdal Telli

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The younger generation of the Turkish diaspora in Germany, and especially in Berlin, is now being recognized as a pool of skilled workers for the Turkish economy. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) plans to increase its workforce from the current 16,000 to 50,000 and massively expand its production capacities over the next ten years. This was recently announced by TAI General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu at an event at the Turkish Embassy in Berlin.

About 300 students from various Berlin universities attended the meeting, which focused on career opportunities in the Turkish aerospace industry and the possibility of highly qualified professionals returning to Turkey.

"We have absolutely no problems selling our products. Our production facilities are fully booked for the next three years. But what we need are more engineers," said Demiroğlu.

Production to Increase Twelvefold

According to the TAI General Manager, the company's production capacity is expected to grow twelvefold over the next ten years. To achieve this goal, the company plans a significant expansion of its workforce and is particularly looking for engineers and technical specialists.

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Right in his opening remarks, Mehmet Akkoç, Vice President of the Union of International Democrats (UID), addressed a new development within the Turkish diaspora. According to him, the younger generation of people of Turkish origin living in Germany views Turkey differently than the previous generation. Perceptions have changed. In the past, many viewed developments in their country of origin with skepticism. Now, however, interest in Turkey is growing, coupled with a newfound self-confidence.

The speakers cited technological advances in Turkey’s defense and aerospace industries as a key reason. Projects such as the KAAN fighter jet, the Bayraktar drones, the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, and the defense industry’s rising export figures have attracted international attention and transformed Turkey’s image as a hub for technology and industry.

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The national KAAN fighter jet program received particular attention. Reflecting on the maiden flight, Demiroğlu stated: “When KAAN took off, it changed the way we saw ourselves as a nation.” With this statement, he described the project’s significance for the country’s national self-confidence and technological identity.

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Another focus of the event was initiatives aimed at so-called “reverse brain drain.” Representatives from TAI encouraged Turkish engineers and scientists educated abroad to contribute their knowledge and experience to strategic, future-oriented industries in Turkey. The rapid development of the aerospace industry is increasingly creating career opportunities that are attractive even by international standards.

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During the subsequent Q&A session, the students asked about internships, entry-level opportunities, and long-term career prospects. The TAI representatives reiterated that the greatest challenge is not the demand for products, but rather attracting a sufficient number of qualified professionals. The event highlighted how Turkey is continuing to expand its technological ambitions while increasingly relying on the support of highly qualified talent from the diaspora.

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