* The fair which hosted participants from 30 different countries and 48 cities, increased the number of foreign participants from 193 to 213. There were 1109 booths in the fair.
* 50.218 people from 104 countries visited the fair as well as the domestic visitors.
* This year, the participants from Lebanon, Switzerland, Vietnam and Austria visited the 23rd Marble Fair which consists of natural stones and construction equipments.
* The largest participation to the fair was from Italy which was organised in 139 thousand m2 by IZFAS hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipalities. Italy participated with 82 companies, China with 37 companies and India with 20 companies. The fair expanded 1000m2 and the participation of China doubled.
* In the 23rd Izmir Marble Fair, the number of challenging booths were high compared with the latest years. The booths of Ermaş Marble, Tümaş, Alacakaya, Silkar, Tureks, Esmer, Mercan were appealing with their designs.
* The participants were very satisfied with the construction of the highway which has caused difficulties for 2 years. It was observed that even the temporary way of delivery made a relief and the traffic jam which existed in the last 2 years no more existed this year.
News and Photographs: Şehriban Çimen, Ersin Bozkurt, Ali Güner
İzmir Marble Fair which hosted natural stone world’s giants for the 23rd times during March 22-25 2017 was very successful despite the political and economical problems. Although the number of the visitors decreased compared with the last few years, most of the participants found it successful and they had prospective contacts.
Marble International Natural stone and Technolgies Fair which is leading in the world’s natural stone sector, took place for the 23rd times between March 22-25 , 2017. 1109 participants had booths in Izmir Marble Fair and 8965 foreigners visited it. Art Hall which was organised for the first time this year won general approval.
The economical and political changes and the effects of the loss in export were certainly perceived in the fair.Most of the companies stated that the number of the visitors decreased and especially the first day of the fair was stiller compared with the last few years. Nevertheless by the help of both İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and Aegean Mine Export Union, there were purchasing companies and this increased the companies’ satisfaction. After the meetings we did with the companies and the fair’s authorised people, we can say that there were more people from abroad compared with the last year. The decrease in the number of the visitors was identified as the decrease of domestic visitors. Also when we compare with last year, the number of the participants and the area in square meter decreased. Especially in Halls B and C, there were empty places in rear sides. And some of the companies did not participate the fair although they had had booths in the fair.
Great interest from China, India and Middle East
The political affairs affected the fair as well as the export. Consequently the visitors from Europe and America was almost none. The proffessional participants from China, India and Middle East visited the fair. Also in Marble Fair, the number of the companies which wanted to invest on factory and quarry machinery was less compared with the recent years. 4.5 years ago, Marble fair used to be very important to be informed for the companies which wanted to invest in the sector.
Thanks to Mr Kocoğlu for the fair
Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs Veysel Eroğlu spoke in the opening of the fair in which 25 thousand tones of marble and natural stone were displayed. He thanked to Aziz Kocaoğlu, the mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality as he brought the fair in Izmir. Aiming to increase the export of Turkey to 500 billion dollars in 2023, Mr Eroğlu said “In all the meetings of the council of ministers, we talk about how we can lead up the businessmen and the exporters. Sincerly saying, 2017 will be better in industry and commerce. I thank to all the businessmen and the exporters who achieved very important success in export. You are cherished.” The Minister Veysel Eroğlu added that they provided all opportunities to develop mining and signed almost 215 signitures in the same day. The Minister Mr Eroğlu told the good news about the permission for mineral exploration and said “We are telling good news now. We prepared a big project with the forestry organisation named ORBIS. We started to carry out. We will shorten the time. This was vital. We signed 215 signatures. We are trying our best to speed up this matter.”
“Production, export and employment are important”
The Minister Mr Eroğlu stated that they pay attention to production, export and employment to develop the country. The lack of one of these, the country cannot develop. We pay attention to these matters. You tell us all the problems you face. We have demands on cancellation of VAT but we will try to solve with with the Prime Minister and the related ministers. I wish this fair will be satisfying and production, export and employment will increase.
“It sustains the city’s economy”
The mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, Aziz Kocaoğlu stated that Izmir was the world’s champion economically. From 30 countries and 48 cities, approximately 1100 companies had booths. And from 85 countries, approximately 1500 dual reception committee are expected. Between the sectoral fairs, Marble Fair is the greatest . He said “We try to sustain the service industry in Izmir by the help of the fairs. We gather the buyers and the sellers and introducing the businessmen to the world and improve the city’s economy. It will grow by the fair. “
Participant Cities
Adana, Adıyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Ağrı, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bilecik, Burdur, Bayburt, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Elazığ, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Hatay, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş, Karabük, Karaman, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kırşehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kütahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mersin, Muğla, Nevşehir, Niğde, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Samsun, Sivas, Şanlıurfa, Tekirdağ, Tokat, Uşak, Van, Yalova
Participants’ Countries
Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Denmark, Egypt, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Mauritius, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweeden, The United Arab Emirates, The United States of America, Vietnam
Countries of the Visitors
China, India, Arabia, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, The USA, Libya, Lebanon, Tunisia, Kuwait, Ukraine, Greece, Spain, South Korea, Germany, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Macedonia, Romenia, France, Russia, Morocco, Egypt, Vietnam, Canada, Nigeria, Georgia, Australia, Oman, Algeria, Taiwan, Albania, England, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Hungary, Syria, Pakistan, Malaysia, American Samoa, Azerbaijan, Kenya, North Korea, Singapore, Chile, Indonesia, Qatar, Serbia, Slovenia, Aruba, Ausrtia, Belgium, Holland, Kosovo, Chad, Switzerland, Kirghizia, Malta, Moldavia, Denmark, Armenia, Croatia, Irland, Icelandi Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Uzbekiastan, Portugal, Tajikistan, Tailand, Turkmenistan, Yemen, Bosnia-Herzegovinia, Brazil, Esthonia, Ethiopia, Sweeden, Japan, Poland, Senegal, Sudan, The Antartic, The Fiji Islands, Gambian, Grenada, Guiana, Jamaica, Columbia, Liberia, Mongolia, Montserrat, Namibia, San Marino,, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Tanzania, Vatican, Turkey
Appealing Designs
The booths in which 25 thousand tones blocks of stone was displayed, appealed people in their designs. There were different kinds of designs from lamp-shade to wall coverings, tables, house decoration and fireplaces. It was observed that “ Sold” was written on most of the construction equipments in the fair in which marble and natural stone engraving were placed.
Contribution to Izmir Economy
The fair brighten accomodation, transportation and service industry. Thousands of participants and visitors who came to İzmir satisfied the city’s commerce as well. The hotels in Izmir served in an occupancy rate of 98 % and it generated employment to service industry with its fair and booth employees.
Interest in the congresses
23rd Marble Fair brought the natural stone sector besides it made architects, engineers and the construction sector gather together by the 4th International Stone Congress. In the sessions that the architecture and engineering students interested in so much, it was announced to increase the using of the natural Stones. In the “Conversation of the Sector” activity that was held for the first time, the representatives of the magazines from all over the world had joyful talks.
WHAT DID PARICIPANTS SAY?
Mevlüt Kaya (Aegean Export Union Chairman of the Executive Board)
The mayor of the Metropolitan Municipality contributed so much besides İZFAŞ. Also The Ministry of Economy contributed as well. We saw in Xiamen that the synergy had a very important role. There is a fair in Europe and in the Far East in natural stone and Technologies. And luck us, one of the fairs is in İzmir and the Italian companies interested in the fair so much. We were at the top in the Far East and and Europe and we aim to lead this.
Raif Türk TÜMMER (The Chairman of Turkey Marble Natural Stone and Machine Production Association )
It made us receive positive feedbacks from both the participators and the visitors particularly from foreigners. There are countries that want to come to the fair as national participatiors. One of them is Egypt. There are a lot of companies from Italy, China and India. One of the Italian Fair companies stated “ We haven’t seen such a Fair Company like İZFAŞ that uses all its possibilities for the fair and does it professionally.” Our target was to protect our fairs and develop them. Carrying out our goal made us so happy.
Liu ZengXian (China İzmir Consul General)
I am so happy top art in the fair. Turkish participators participated Xiamen Marble Fair. This time the participators from China and all over the world came to MARBLE. Too many Chinese companies participated the fair. Also in Burdur there are a lot of Chinese companies are active there. There have been great trade relations between China – Turkey and the countries on the Silk Road. We, as Consulate General, contribute these relations. We hope that MARBLE Fair will be number one activity , more Chinese participators will participate the fair and contribute to marble market between Turkey and China
Flavio Marabelli (The Honorary President of Italy Marble Machine Producers Confederation)
MARBLE is a very important fair fort his sector. One of the most important reasons of the latest developing of Turkish natural stone for 10 years is the improvements in technology. Italy has a big effect on this. Because the companies that have been using Italian technology developed fast. Turkey is one of the five countries in the Italian machine marketç The first one is the USA, the second one is Spain and the third one is Turkey. Turkish market can purchase all kinds of machinery. Therefore Turkish market is very important for us.
Rodolfo Panisi (Participator- the USA)
We display quarts in the fair. Our main market is America. We decided to sell to the countries in the world last year. Turkey is a valuable market for us. We participate to Xiamen and Marmomacc fairs out of America. We decided to participate MARBLE Fair as well. Because it has an important position in marble industry and we wanted to be there . Our competitors are here, too and this is an important indicator for us.
Pankaj Chaudhary (Participator- India)
We have been participating the fair for 12 years. Turkey is one of the fast developing countries. We have been at the Turkish market since 2005. We would like to commerce in this fast developing country. We have been here and we will be here. Turkey is also one of the countries that we export products. Most of the people can reach here easily with its geographical location. MARBLE has been a meeting point for us to meet with our customers from different countries. We meet our customers from Africa and Europe.
News and Photographs: Şehriban Çimen, Ersin Bozkurt, Ali Güner
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+90 532 585 51 95