Saturday, June 10, 2023 “Izmir Historical Kemeraltı Real Estate Investment Fund ” was established to carry Kemeraltı into the future. The first priority of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is to create a lively Kemeraltı that can be lived 24 hours a day with its restaurants, cafes, hotels, hostels, and shopkeepers. Mayor Soyer believes that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism will also contribute to this work. The project size is targeted at $1 billion.
The works continue to introduce the historical bazaar Kemeraltı to the world. “Izmir Historical Kemeraltı Real Estate Investment Fund” was established with Re-Pie Portfolio Management Company for the purpose of collecting and scaling resources on behalf of İzmir Historical Kemeraltı and its around. The meeting, which aims to introduce the fund to large masses and attract national-international investors to the region through the fund, was held at the EGIAD Social and Cultural Activities Center.
General Secretary of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality,Barış Karcı ; General Manager of TARKEM, Sergenç İneler ; Chairman of the Board of Re-Pie, Dr. M. Emre Çamlıbel ; Association of Artisans, Chairman Semih Girgin ; Headman of Konak, Tamer Yıldırım and representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, business world participated in the meeting. It has been stated that with the project, an investment of 1 billion dollars is targeted in the region.
“Kemeraltı is the heart of this city, the guarantee of the future”
Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer gave information about this significant work, which is the first example of impact investment in the fund ecosystem in Turkey. He said, “I'm really happy, excited. A very significant step is being taken today. Nature has a rhythm to life. It has a natural flow, sometimes you see leaps. Here is the moment when the 2,500-year-old Kemeraltı is faced with a leap in which its natural rhythm changes. That's why it's so valuable. Kemeraltı is the heart of this city as the world's largest and oldest open-air shopping center. Also, it is a guarantee of the future. You can construct brand - new living spaces, sites, buildings all over this city. However, Kemeraltı has another story. It has soul, voice, and flavors. If Kemeraltı will carry 8,500 years of heritage forward, it will carry it together with Kemeraltı.”
“There is no longer any reason not to take this story to another dimension”
Mayor Soyer continued his speech by saying, “With its people and tradesmen living in Kemeraltı, it will experience a refreshment and renewal with its thousands of years of history.” He also used these statements : “This story has a long history. There are many people who contribute their efforts. Now, there is another structure here. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality protects its structure. TARKEM is creating a new turning point for them after a very important process. Perhaps, the most difficult part of this job for us was the financial part. However, there are many people who embrace our excitement in Izmir. There is no longer any reason not to take this story to another dimension. Another process begins for Kemeraltı. A sustainability process begins.”
“Kemeraltı is the first priority of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality”
Mayor Soyer, who states that a big step has been taken, said: “The planning of the future commences today. I am very excited and today I know this; An exemplary model is being constructed for Turkey and the world. It is a model in which the private sector, finance sector, tradesmen,and small producers take part and act together. It can be a partner with 50 thousand lire. This story should be told to our artisans because they should be partners here. To both enlarge and embellish his own future, to develop Kemeraltı, where he earns his bread. A sustainable struggle to be carried forward begins by growing with great collaborative effort. It's not something that only those with money will come and invest in. It is a truly permanent and future-proof model that will emerge, in which our tradesmen will also take part, our little artisans will meet with capital. It will be crowned with the UNESCO brand and name. I believe that our Ministry of Culture and Tourism will also make a great contribution to this matter. This means reviving, keeping alive, and carrying one of Turkey's most important cultural heritages into the future. So this will be a beginning that excites us all and makes us very happy. Kemeraltı is number one in the vision of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality. A lively Kemeraltı with its restaurants, cafes, hotels, hostels, and shopkeepers is the first priority of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. That's why we're so happy to have this intersection.”
Thanks to TARKEM
Mayor Soyer, who states that they will do what is necessary to introduce Kemeraltı to the world,  concluded his speech as follows: Because of these sensitivities, TARKEM's founding partners actually contributed without expecting anything in return. This was probably the first step of an unheard-of  collaboration in the world. At this point, each one deserves a big thank you. Thank you to everyone who contributed and stood by us on this long process.”
“The target is to develop the Kemeraltı Bazaar by using it”
The General Manager of TARKEM - Sergenç İneler, who touches upon the historical, cultural, commercial,and touristic importance of Kemeraltı, gave information to the participants with his presentation about the projects and works to be implemented in and around Kemeraltı. İneler said, “We will gain acceleration in our work with this fund. We will undertake projects that will set an example nationally and internationally by revitalizing Kemeraltı and its surroundings, which are on the way to being included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, with our own unique urban transformation model, revealing their values. We will go on to work with a common mind to make it one of the most known and visited regions of Turkey and the world.”
Re-Pie Chairman of the Board Dr. M. Emre Çamlıbel,who clarifies his pleasure to take part in projects in Izmir, said “Our target here is to develop and reconstruct İzmir's Historical Kemeraltı Bazaar by using it. Çamlıbel also thanked Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer for contributing to the development of sustainability awareness in Turkey.
What is the goal of the fund?
“Izmir Historical Kemeraltı Real Estate Investment Fund ” was established in cooperation with Re-Pie Portfolio Management Company under the leadership of TARKEM. The goal of this fund is to collect, scale resources on behalf of Izmir Historical Kemeraltı and its environs under the chairmanship of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer. Izmir Historical Kemeraltı Real Estate Investment Fund, which includes institutional and individual investors, has the concept of fund raising and scaling on behalf of İzmir Historical Kemeraltı and its around. The goal of this fund is to materialize the regional transformation and make the region worthy of its historical texture. It aims to contribute to making Izmir Historical City Center a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Izmir Historical Kemeraltı Real Estate Investment Fund aims to generate financial returns as well as a measurable positive social, economic, or environmental impact as an “impact investment”.