A Fair That Has Brought Prosperity for 30 Years: Marble İzmir

Marble İzmir Fair, the gateway of Türkiye’s natural stone sector to the world, has been contributing to the sector, its sub-sectors, exports, and employment for 30 years. The fair, which also enhances İzmir’s image and prestige, serves as an assurance for potential investments in the city. It acts as a locomotive for both the city and national economy across various fields—from tourism and accommodation to transportation and food & beverage. For 30 years, domestic and international visitors coming to İzmir for the fair have brought the blessing of Marble to the city.

Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair is preparing to host the industry in İzmir for the 30th time this year. Held at Fuar İzmir, the fair—one of the world’s most important natural stone and marble trade events—will once again, between April 9–12, 2025, contribute significantly to the sector, exports, employment, and the local economy. The increasing interest each year enhances İzmir’s reputation and secures it as a safe investment destination.

Participants and Visitors from Nearly 150 Countries

In its 30th year, the fair continues to evolve with many events and innovative developments, welcoming participants and visitors from nearly 150 countries. For four days at Fuar İzmir, Marble İzmir will pulse with economic and commercial life, contributing significantly not only to the natural stone sector and related industries, but also to local businesses such as hotels, taxi drivers, cafes, restaurants, and shops.

Industry representatives celebrating the fair's 30-year success stated that Marble İzmir has increased the brand value of Turkish natural stone and revitalized the city’s economy:

Özkan: Taxi Drivers See Up to 30% Growth

Erkan Özkan, President of the İzmir Chamber of Drivers and Car Owners, said they have been providing transportation for local and international tourists coming for Marble İzmir for 30 years. “The success and continuity of Marble İzmir brings vibrancy to the entire city. Our taxi drivers see up to a 30% increase in passenger numbers during the fair in April, which reflects positively on their daily earnings. For a fair this globally recognized, attracting many visitors for three decades, it holds great value for our profession. It’s an honor for us to continue our cooperation with İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and İZFAŞ in such an impactful event,” he said.

Kılıç: Helps Restaurants Weather the Economic Crisis

Doğan Kılıç, President of the İzmir Association of Restaurateurs and Entertainers, highlighted the fair’s significance: “For 30 years, this marble fair has drawn domestic and international guests to İzmir. It’s very important for cafes and restaurants as well. The four-day event in April brings great economic gains to the food & beverage industry, helped by the nice spring weather. Many sectoral fairs organized by İZFAŞ have long revitalized the city’s economy. Restaurants, one of the sectors most affected by the ongoing economic crisis in Türkiye, find some relief through such events. People from anywhere in the world need to eat, and that’s our business. We strive to deliver world-class service to ensure guests leave satisfied and support our city’s reputation in hosting successful fairs.”

Güney: A Key Revenue Source for the Accommodation Sector

Güner Güney, Board Member of the Association of Tourism Hotel Managers (TUROYD), emphasized the fair’s broader economic impact: “With thousands of domestic and foreign visitors, many sectors from hotels and restaurants to taxis and retail are invigorated. The fair is a vital source of income for the tourism and hospitality sectors and boosts İzmir’s international visibility. It reinforces İzmir’s leadership in trade fairs and seems poised to grow even more in the future.”

Alimoğlu: Stronger and More Innovative in Its 30th Year

İbrahim Alimoğlu, Chairman of the Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB), noted that their region is one of the leaders in Türkiye’s natural stone exports. “This annual fair enables our industry to access new markets, strengthen existing client relationships, and track global trends. Thanks to the fair, our exporters meet thousands of visitors from dozens of countries each year, making important business deals. Marble İzmir has played a crucial role in enhancing the global brand of Turkish natural stone. Now in its 30th year, the fair continues to evolve with sector-focused seminars, procurement delegations, and design competitions. We are proud to celebrate its anniversary and invite all stakeholders to join this pivotal event that shapes the future of our industry. Marble İzmir will continue to offer new opportunities to showcase Türkiye’s natural wealth to the world.”

Eskinazi: We’ll Secure Deals with Buyers from Asia and the Middle East

Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator Chair of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations (EİB), shared that while 2024 was a challenging year for the sector due to global economic fluctuations and logistical issues, 2025 is showing more positive signs. “We anticipate a 10–15% increase in export volume by year-end. Marble İzmir plays a major role in the sector. It’s essential for networking, innovation, and following global trends. Our expectations for this year include closing new business deals with buyers from Asia and the Middle East, exploring new technologies, and fostering collaboration. We also foresee more focus on innovative products and digital marketing trends, further contributing to the sector’s growth.”

Yorgancılar: Marble Has Become a Brand

Ender Yorgancılar, Chairman of the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (EBSO), stated that Marble İzmir is one of the most prestigious and globally significant events in the natural stone industry. “This fair, which enhances our economy and social prestige, is also crucial for sustainability. According to Trademap, with nearly half of the world's natural stone reserves, Türkiye is the global leader in block marble and travertine exports at $650 million. This strength has turned Marble İzmir into a brand, helping Turkish companies connect with more international clients and supporting productivity and quality with advanced machinery and production technologies. It draws foreign investors and increases foreign currency inflow. With over a thousand participants, it boosts activity across hotels, restaurants, and transportation, accelerating the economy. As a strategic event, it enhances İzmir’s and Türkiye’s visibility and global standing in the natural stone sector.”

Özgener: A Shining Example of İzmir’s Success Stories

Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce (İZTO), emphasized that Marble İzmir is one of the best examples of success stories born in İzmir and serves as a role model in the trade fair industry. “Founded in 1989 as 'İzmir Marble Days 89' through a university-industry collaboration at Kültürpark, it officially became a fair in 1995. From 47 exhibitors and 4,719 visitors then, it has grown to over a thousand participants in its 30th year. As Türkiye’s largest specialized fair, Marble İzmir has become one of the world’s top natural stone fairs. It showcases not just our country’s natural stone potential, but also the latest technological developments and trends. From mining to final products, visitors can explore various applications and new directions in the sector. The fair brings a major economic boost to the city each year through accommodation, food, transportation, and local businesses. It also enhances the city’s image and secures future investments. As İZTO, we support our members’ participation and are proud of this success. We hope Marble İzmir continues for many more decades and serves as a model for our other fairs.”