The largest global meeting of the natural stone industry, Marble Izmir-International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair opened its doors. Emphasizing the importance of 29th Marble İzmir for both the country and the city, which will bring the natural stone industry together at Fuar İzmir until April 28, the President Tunç Soyer“Marble İzmir is the world's largest natural stone fair and therefore the gateway of the natural stone industry to the world. Marble İzmir is a gift of our city to Turkey and world fairs”. President Soyer announced that they can expand the fair with an additional area of 20 thousand square meters upon the demand from the industry.
Marble İzmir International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, opened its doors for the 28th time at Fair İzmir. Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, CHP Deputy Chairman Ahmet Akın, CHP Deputy Chairman Yüksel Taşkın, IYI Party Parliamentary Group Deputy Chairman Musavat Dervişoğlu, CHP İzmir Provincial Chairman Şenol Aslanoğlu, İzmir Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mahmut Özgener, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry Chairman Ender Yorgancılar, Aegean Exporters' Associations Coordinator Chairman Jak Eskinazi, Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association Chairman of the Board, Turkish Exporters Assembly Mining Sector Chairman Rüstem Çetinkaya, Aegean Mine Exporters Association Chairman İbrahim Alimoğlu, Denizli Exporters Association Board of Directors Chairman Hüseyin Memişoğlu, İZFAŞ General Manager Canan Karaosmanoğlu Buyer, provincial and district mayors, political party representatives attended.
Soyer: “A gift to the world fair organization”
İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor, who said at the opening ceremony that Marble İzmir is the world's largest natural stone fair and the gateway to the natural stone industry to the world. Tunç Soyer“Marble İzmir is a gift of our city to Turkey and world fairs. In this economic bottleneck we are going through, we have to increase our foreign trade volume and create added value that will increase the fertility of these lands. At this point, the natural stone industry responds to an important need. Our country has a very important position in the world natural stone reserve. Is it enough? Of course not. It is imperative that we process this raw material and transform it into products with high added value, thanks to the careful workmanship and skill of our workers in the sector. For this reason, we are doing everything we can to increase the value-added products in the natural stone sector at the Marble Izmir Fair.”
3 important reasons
Stating that there are three main reasons for hosting Marble İzmir in İzmir, the city of fairs, President Soyer said, “To determine the world trends in this important sector, where we are the number one in the world, by directing the future of the natural stone sector, which is growing more and more each year, and with value-added products and nature-friendly products. to increase the welfare of our city and country by promoting production and increasing exports. We know that it is possible to further strengthen our position in the natural stone sector with our products with high added value, whose share in exports is increasing every year. We just need to exploit this potential. With this awareness, we continue to bring the capabilities and products of all companies to the world at Marble İzmir.”
“Virtual participation will be possible”
Stating that the 54th Marble İzmir Fair, which will host visitors from 28 countries from all over the world, will suit İzmir, the heart of the Mediterranean, Mayor Soyer said, “We are planning to host more than 100 thousand visitors at our fair this year, even more than in previous years. Marble İzmir will continue to have a say in the natural stone sector, to bring together all domestic and foreign sector representatives and to create a large trade volume this year. We have also commissioned the Marble İzmir mobile application for the first time at our fair, which will take place for the 28th time. Thus, participation in Marble İzmir from all over the world will be possible virtually," he said.
“20 square meters will be ready for the next year”
Continuing his speech by stating that he would ask for applause from the participants, the President Tunç SoyerHanifi Şimşek, Chairman of the Turkish Marble, Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers Association, said that 20 thousand square meters of additional fair area is needed. I am ready to make this promise. But in return, I want a word from you. I want to hear the power of this word with your applause. Rüstem Çetinkaya, Chairman of the Board of the Istanbul Mineral Exporters' Association and Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly Mining Sector Board, talked about the target of 30 billion dollars. Jak Eskinazi, Chairman of the Board of Aegean Exporters' Associations, talked about getting ahead of Italy. Are you at the point of reaching this goal? We will do our part, 20 thousand square meters are ready for the year," he said.
Köşger: “It will open its way”
İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger said that the sector should be paved even more and said, “You will form the public opinion. You will tell the world figures to the public of the whole country. Whatever the industry needs, the way will be opened. The country will try to work better, especially in your field," he said.
Akın: “We created our prescription”
CHP Deputy Chairman Ahmet Akın said, “As your brother who is struggling to work with the sector, we are aware of the problems that have been experienced for a long time. We have prepared the solution proposals with you, with a common mind and consciousness, with those who know best. We created our recipe by putting green transformation in our focus, taking into account the examples of the world.”
“A fair that brings the continents together”
Fatih Dumanlı, Deputy General Manager of MAPEG, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey, said in his speech that Turkey is among the countries that have a say in the natural stone reserves and is getting richer gradually.
Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, said, “Marble Izmir has become an event that brings the continents together. When we look at both the indoor and outdoor areas of the fairground, we see that there is no empty space. Exports, which were 1995 million dollars when it was first organized in 70, have exceeded 2 billion dollars today”.
Aegean Region Chamber of Industry Chairman Ender Yorgancılar said, “We continue on our way to become a world brand with natural stone and marble. The importance of fairs in overcoming the difficult economic period is clear.
Aegean Exporters' Unions Coordinator President Jak Eskinazi said, “I congratulate the natural stone exporters of Aegean from my heart. We are doing our best for exporters to become the leader in the world.”
“It is very valuable to be here”
Rüstem Çetinkaya, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Mineral Exporters' Association and Chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly Mining Sector Board, said, "It is very valuable to be in a city like İzmir, which has written its name in gold letters."
İbrahim Alimoğlu, Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Mine Exporters Association, said: Tunç SoyerI would like to thank ' and all our employees who worked hard.
Hüseyin Memişoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Denizli Exporters' Association, said, "Everyone knows Denizli as a textile city, but we are working with other sectors for export."
Hanifi Şimşek, Chairman of the Turkish Marble, Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers Association, said, "I would like to thank my Bronze President, who gave 30 percent discount to 20 of our companies in the earthquake zone."
President after the inauguration Tunç Soyer and the accompanying delegation visited the participants and wished them a successful fair.
opened its doors for the 28th time
Being a pioneer with the number of domestic and foreign visitors, Marble İzmir will contribute to the natural stone sector, which exceeded its export target of 2 billion dollars last year, to reach new targets. While all natural stone companies took place in the closed halls of Fuar İzmir, a large part of the C hall and the entire D hall were allocated to machinery and technology companies. While the size of the block marble area was increased compared to last year, a temporary closed area was created for the processed natural stone exhibition area. Colored and various natural stones in blocks extracted from quarries all over Turkey, which has about 40 of the world's natural stone reserves, are on display at the fairground. The fair is expected to be visited by nearly 100 thousand local and foreign people.