The Marble İzmir-International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair ,which is the largest spherical meeting of the natural stone industry, has opened its doors. It will bring the natural stone industry together at the Fair İzmir until April 29. Mayor Tunç Soyer emphasized the significance of the 28th Marble İzmir for both the country and the city.He said “The Marble İzmir is the world's largest natural stone fair. Therefore, it is the gateway of the natural stone industry to the world. The Marble İzmir is a gift of our city to Turkey and to the world fairs.” Mayor Soyer clarified that  they can extend the fair with an additional area of ​​20 thousand square meters upon request from the industry.
For the 28th time, the Marble İzmir International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, hosted by the  İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAS, opened its doors at Fair İzmir.İzmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger ; the Vice Chairman of CHP, Ahmet Akın ; the Vice Chairman of CHP, Yüksel Taşkın ; IYI Party Parliamentary Group , the Vice Chairman, Müsavat Dervişoğlu ; the Provincial Head, Şenol Aslanoğlu ; İzmir Chamber of Commerce , the Chairman of the Board Mahmut Özgener ;
The Aegean Chamber of Industry , the Chairman of the Board Ender Yorgancılar ; the Aegean Exporters' Associations – the President of Coordinator JakEskinazi ; İstanbul Mineral Exporters' Association, the Chairman of the Board ; Turkish Exporters Assembly, the Chairman of the Mineral Sector Board Rüstem Çetinkaya ; the Aegean Mineral Exporters Association, the Chairman of the Board İbrahim Alimoğlu ; Denizli Exporters Association, the Chairman of the Board Hüseyin Memişoğlu ; the General Manager of İZFAŞ Canan Karaosmanoğlu Alıcı ; the provincial and district mayors, the representatives of political parties participated to the opening of the fair hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, Mayor Tunç Soyer.
Soyer: “A gift to the world fair organization”
At the inauguration ceremony,İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer said that the Marble İzmir is the world's largest natural stone fair and the gateway to the natural stone industry around the world. “The Marble İzmir is a gift of our city to Turkey and to the world fairs. In this economic crisis we are in ; We have to enhance our external trade scale and create added value that will raise the fruitfulness of these lands. At this point, the natural stone industry provides a crucial need. Our country has a very important position in terms of world natural stone reserves. Is it enough? Of course not. We need to process this raw material. We need to transform it into products with high added value thanks to the attentive labor and skill of our workers in the sector. For this reason, we are doing our best at the Marble İzmir Fair for the proliferation of added value products in the natural stone industry”.
The three significant reasons
Mayor Soyer said that there are three main reasons for hosting Marble İzmir in the city of Fairs, İzmir. He said,  “These reasons are: “To determine the world trends in this significant industry where we are the number one in the world, To steer the future of the natural stone industry, which is growing every year, and to encourage added -  value products and environment friendly production, To enhance the welfare of our city and country by increasing exportation. We know that it is possible to  strengthen our position in the natural stone industry with our high added – value products whose share in exportation is increasing every year. Let's use this potential. With this awareness, we proceed to bring the abilities and products of all companies together with the world in Marble İzmir.”
“Virtual participation will be possible”
Mayor Soyer stated that the 28th Marble İzmir Fair, which will host visitors from 54 countries on every continent of the world, will be suitable for İzmir ;  the heart of the Mediterranean. He also said, “When compared to previous years, we are planning to host more than 100 thousand visitors at our fair this year. Marble İzmir will continue to have a right to say in the natural stone industry, to  bring together all domestic and foreign industry representatives, and to create a large trade volume this year. We also put into use the Marble İzmir mobile application for the first time at our fair, which will take place for the 28th time. So, participation in Marble İzmir will be possible virtually from anywhere in the world.
“20,000 square meters will be ready for the next year”
Mayor Tunç Soyer continued his speech by asking for applause from the participants. “The Chairman of the Turkish Marble, Natural Stone, and Machinery Manufacturers Association, Hanifi Şimşek told me that there is a need for an additional fair field of ​​20 thousand square meters. I'm ready to make this commitment. But in return, I want a promise from you. I want to hear the power of this promise in applause. The Chairman of the Board of İstanbul Mineral Exporters' Association, the Chairman of the Mineral Sector Board, Rüstem Çetinkaya mentioned the target of 30 billion dollars. The Chairman of the Board of Aegean Exporters' Associations, JakEskinazi talked about getting ahead of Italy. Are you ready to reach this goal together?  We will do our part ; 20,000 square meters will be ready for the next year.”
Köşger: “The industry will open to the world ”
The Governor of İzmir, Yavuz Selim Köşger said that the way for the industry should be opened even more. He said “You will mold  public opinion. You will express the numbers of the world to the whole public. Whatever the industry needs, the way will be opened. The country will make an effort  to do better, especially in your field.”
Akın: “ We formed our recipe ”
The Vice Chairman of CHP, Ahmet Akın used these statements : “As your brother, struggling to work with the industry ; We are aware of long-standing problems. We have arranged the solution suggestions with you, with a common mind and consciousness, with those who know best. We formed our recipe by considering the examples of world, and putting the green transformation as our focal point.
“A fair that brings the continents together”
T.R. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources MAPEG , the Deputy General Manager Fatih Dumanlı said in his speech that Turkey is among the countries that have a right to say in natural stone reserves and that it is becoming richer gradually.
İzmir Chamber of Commerce, the Chairman of the Board, Mahmut Özgener said “the Marble İzmir has become an event that brings the continents together. When we look at both the open and closed fields of the fair , we see that there are no vacancy. Today, exportations have exceeded 2 billion dollars, While it was $70 million when it was issued in 1995.
The Aegean Chamber of Industry, the Chairman of the Board Ender Yorgancılar said “We go on our way to become a world brand with natural stone and marble. The significance of fairs in overcoming the difficult economic period is obvious”
The Aegean Exporters' Associations, the President of Coordinator ,JakEskinazi said “I sincerely congratulate the Aegean natural stone exporters. We do our best for exporters to be a pioneer in the world.
“It is so worthy to be here”
The Chairman of the Board of the İstanbul Mineral Exporters' Association, the Chairman of the Mineral Sector Board , Rüstem Çetinkaya used these statements “It is so worthy to be in a city like İzmir, which has its name written in gold letters”
The Aegean Mineral Exporters Association, the Chairman of the Board İbrahim Alimoğlu, said “I would like to thank Tunç Soyer and all our employees for their endeavors.
Denizli Exporters Association, the Chairman of the Board Hüseyin Memişoğlu said “Everyone knows Denizli as a textile city , but we also work with other sectors for exportation.
The Chairman of the Turkish Marble - Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers Association, Hanifi Şimşek said “The Chairman Tunç applied 20 percent reduction to 30 of our companies in the earthquake zone, I thank him for this reduction.In the wake of the inauguration, Mayor Tunç Soyer and the accompanying delegation visited the participants and wished the fair to be prosperity.
The fair opened its doors for the 28th time
The Marble İzmir, which is a pioneer with the number of domestic and foreign visitors, will contribute to reach new targets for the natural stone industry, which exceeded its export target of 2 billion dollars last year. While all natural stone companies are present in the closed space of Fair İzmir, A large part of hall C and the whole of hall D have been assigned to machinery and technology companies. While the size of the block marble area has increased compared to last year, a temporary closed space has been created for the cultivated natural stone in fair field. Turkey has about 40 percent of the world's natural stone reserves. The colored, various natural stones in the form of blocks that are extracted from the quarries all around are exhibited in the fair field. It is expected that nearly 100 thousand domestic and foreign people will visit the fair.