It is 3PM, second day of President Abdullah Gül’s visit to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the King Abdullah bin Abdülaziz’s guest. The cortege including President Gül, State Minister Kürşad Tüzmen, National Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül and Minister of Transport Yıldırım and the people traveling with them abruptly left Al Faisaliah Hotel. An hour later, we arrived at Saudi Arabian Ground Forces facilities in Al Kharj. We have been told that the facilities where armored vehicles named “M113” are being modernized are operated by FNSS Defense Sytems Co., a company affiliated with Nurol Holding of which Mr. Nurettin Çarmıklı is the Chairman of the Board. According to FNNS Defense Systems CEO Nail Kurt and Tracked Vehicle Programs Director Selim Tibet the company has undertaken the modernization project of 300 “M113” expected to last six years. The project which is expected to come to an end in August 2010 covers a business volume worth USD210 millions. After the quick tour of the facilities, during the 5-10 minute break President Gül shared his sentiment by saying: You saw what FNSS has accomplished, didn’t you? In fact, the vehicles with no original technology and even armor are being transformed by FNSS into fully armored vehicles featuring important technological characteristics. Isn’t this project one of the examples that you mention in your advice to businessmen when you say “move in the direction of high added-value works.” Certainly. Here a very important work is being realized. This shows very clearly what the Turkish businessmen are capable of achieving. I am familiar with FNSS, because my daughter who is an industrial engineer did her internship there. There were one old and two new vehicles at the point where the tour came to an end at Al Kharj facilities where Saudi Arabia’s “M113” armored vehicles are modernized by the Nurol Holding affiliate FNSS Defense Systems Co.. The Saudi Deputy National Defense Minister Prince Halit Bin Sultan (Arab forces commander during the days of the Gulf War) tried to tell President Abdullah Gül what FNSS has so far accomplished by showing him the two vehicles. Gül smiled and said: My daughter is an industrial engineer. She did her internship at Ankara FNSS. May be he (meaning Nurol boss Nurettin Çarmıklı) does not know about this. I know quite well what FNSS is capable of doing since my daughter did her internship there. Nurettin Çarmıklı answered back: Oh please sir! You are embarrassing me. FNNS Defense Systems Co. directors told us that the new project has just been recently approved. By August 2010, the modernization of 300 ‘M113” will be completed. Yet, right after this project, a new 300-vehicle project, and this time with a budget of USD330 millions will come up. While improving its facilities, FNNS Defense Systems Co. trained the Saudi personnel in Ankara, and brought 29 of its personnel here to modernize each “M113” for an amount of USD 700 thousands. The price of a brand new armored vehicle comparable to “M113” is not below USD1million. Both countries benefit from the situation. It seems like there will be a lot work for the Turkish defense sector in Saudi Arabia. President Gül and National Defense Minister Gönül persistently drew attention to this.