The countdown for Marble İzmir continues
The Countdown for Marble İzmir Continues
The countdown for the world's largest global gathering in the natural stone sector, Marble İzmir - International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, is underway. As the setup process for Marble İzmir begins and the first natural stone block is brought to the venue, the global natural stone industry is set to gather at fuarizmir between April 26-29, 2023, following nearly three weeks of preparation. Now in its 28th edition, Marble İzmir has allocated all its halls and outdoor spaces to exhibitors. With new areas added, the fair will span over 150,000 square meters and host more than 1,000 exhibitors, leaving no vacant space due to the high demand from the industry.
Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, Marble İzmir International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair continues to contribute to the industry and serve as Türkiye’s gateway to the global market for natural stone. As a leading event with participants from all over the world and a significant number of domestic and international visitors, Marble İzmir will help the natural stone industry reach new export goals, having already surpassed the $2 billion export target in 2022. Based on feedback and requests from participants and visitors, all indoor and outdoor spaces have been allocated to exhibitors this year as well. All natural stone companies will be located in fuarizmir’s indoor halls, while a significant portion of Hall C and the entirety of Hall D have been designated for machinery and technology companies. Additionally, the block marble area has been expanded, and a temporary indoor exhibition space has been created for processed natural stone displays.
The First Natural Stone Block Brought to the Fair Was "Shadow"
Preparations for Türkiye’s largest fair operation are in full swing. As the first stone blocks arrive at the fairground, exhibitors are also setting up their stands. The first natural stone block for the 28th Marble İzmir was "Shadow," extracted from a quarry in Balya, Balıkesir. Featuring a blend of gray and smoky tones, Shadow's dynamic surface pattern makes it a preferred material in a wide range of applications. The transportation and placement of stone blocks extracted from quarries across Türkiye into the fair area will continue until April 19, 2023. A total of nearly 1,500 block stones are expected to be brought to fuarizmir, arriving in a variety of colors and types by trucks and trailers.
Exports Surpassed $2 Billion
When Marble İzmir was first held, Türkiye’s total natural stone exports stood at $77 million. Over the years, with the fair’s contribution, Türkiye's natural stone exports reached $2.096 billion in 2022. Last year, the fair hosted over 1,000 domestic and international companies, attracting more than 78,000 visitors from 145 countries and across Türkiye. Serving as a showcase for Türkiye’s rich natural stone resources, Marble İzmir will continue to be the driving force of natural stone exports in 2023.
Visitors from Around the World
Based on discussions with exhibitors, visitor outreach efforts have been conducted across a vast geographical area, with a special focus on America and European countries. Collaborations have been established with Türkiye’s commercial attachés in the U.S., Middle East, Asia, and Europe, and the fair is expected to host participants and visitors from all around the world. Additionally, procurement delegation programs have been arranged in partnership with exporters’ associations across Türkiye. As part of these programs, hundreds of international buyers will be hosted from target countries, including the U.S., United Kingdom, India, Poland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Israel, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan.
To facilitate business interactions, B2B meetings will be organized throughout the fair, allowing exhibitors to connect with potential buyers quickly and effectively. Furthermore, international visitor applications for the procurement delegation programs have been received from 54 countries, spanning every continent, from Australia to Italy and China to the U.S.. This year, nearly 100,000 local and international visitors are expected to attend the fair.
Contribution to İzmir and Türkiye Economy
In addition to benefiting the industry and its sub-sectors, boosting exports, and supporting employment, Marble İzmir will once again positively impact İzmir’s economy, as in previous years. The influx of domestic and international participants and visitors will stimulate tourism, accommodation, transportation, and the food and beverage sector, bringing economic vitality to the city.
"Unique" Designs Come to Life at Marble İzmir
Marble İzmir also serves as a platform for young designers to collaborate with innovative companies in the industry through the 5th International Different Natural Stone Design Competition. This competition aims to increase the value of Turkish natural stone exports by integrating design and architecture, highlighting Türkiye’s innovative approach in the market. The finalist designs from 28 projects submitted by young designers from 15 countries will be brought to life by the industry’s leading companies and showcased at Marble İzmir, where the winners will be announced.
Wide Range of Products and Services at Marble İzmir
Marble İzmir will feature exhibitors specializing in marble, granite, travertine, onyx, limestone, diabase, andesite, basalt, mining consumables, factory and workshop supplies, mining machinery, construction machinery, heavy equipment, factory and workshop machinery, environmental protection, recycling and recovery systems, sectoral organizations and magazines, IT and software companies, logistics and transportation services, financing and credit services, public institutions, associations, unions, NGOs, media organizations, and more.
Organized Under the Auspices of the Ministry of Trade
Held under the auspices of the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and organized by İZFAŞ, the 28th Marble İzmir International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair is supported by:
- Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB)
- Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization (KOSGEB)
- İzmir Chamber of Commerce (İZTO)
- Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (EBSO)
- İzmir Commodity Exchange (İTB)
- All Marble Natural Stone and Machinery Manufacturers Association (TÜMMER)
- Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB)
- Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association (EMİB)
- Western Mediterranean Exporters’ Association (BAİB)
- Denizli Exporters’ Association (DENİB)
With strong institutional support and a high level of international participation, Marble İzmir 2023 is set to once again be a key meeting point for the global natural stone industry.