Preparations continue for Marble İzmir 2026

The Advisory Board Meeting of Marble İzmir – the 31st International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, organized by İZFAŞ and hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, was held at the Historic Gasworks Factory.

The Advisory Board Meeting of the 31st Marble İzmir Fair, which will take place on 14–17 April 2026, was hosted by İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu and attended by Aegean Minerals Exporters’ Association Chairman İbrahim Alimoğlu, TÜMMER Chairman Hanifi Şimşek, chamber and association presidents, executives, and sector representatives. The meeting, where the preparation process, incentives, and sector expectations were discussed, took place at the Historic Gasworks Factory.

Speaking at the meeting, İZFAŞ General Manager Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu stated that Marble İzmir has played a significant role for 31 years not only in contributing to the natural stone sector but also in terms of İzmir’s economic dynamism, trade volume, and international visibility. Emphasizing that the fair brings together a wide ecosystem ranging from production to export, Cumalıoğlu noted that Marble İzmir is an important meeting point that contributes to the development of the sector, strengthens the city’s brand value, and provides a platform for international cooperation with participants and visitors from more than 100 countries.

Incentives for participants with “Prestigious Fair” status

Cumalıoğlu underlined that Marble İzmir’s inclusion in the “Prestigious Fair” program by the Ministry of Trade represents a significant advantage for participants. She stated that under the updated incentive scheme effective as of 1 January 2026, the maximum upper support limit available to participating companies is 1,292,800 TL. Noting that expenses related to stand construction and fair participation are covered under these incentives, Cumalıoğlu added that, together with the support provided by the İzmir Chamber of Commerce, a strong incentive structure has been established for participants.

“There is a special support provided by the İzmir Chamber of Commerce for the fair. Accordingly, chamber members receive 50% support for participation areas between 1–80 square meters and 60% support for areas between 80–200 square meters, up to 3,000 TL per square meter excluding VAT. These supports can be used together with the Ministry of Trade incentives. We believe these incentives will make a major contribution to our participants,” she said.

Full-speed international promotion efforts

Cumalıoğlu stated that within the scope of international promotion activities and visitor targets, project- and architecture-focused buyers from the USA, the UK, Gulf countries, and the Benelux market, as well as block buyers from China, India, Italy, and Egypt, are among the priority target groups. She added that international promotion and invitation efforts are continuing accordingly.

Referring to the agreement signed with the Italian Marble Machinery Manufacturers’ Association, one of the key representatives of Italy’s natural stone and stone-processing machinery sector, Cumalıoğlu noted that this cooperation would further strengthen Marble İzmir’s international position.

Sculpture Workshop brings marble together with the city

Cumalıoğlu also announced that a Sculpture Workshop will be organized this year, stating:
“İzmir is a marble city. We do not see Marble İzmir as limited to the fairground. Upon the suggestion of our Metropolitan Mayor, Dr. Cemil Tugay, we aim to make marble more visible in urban life through a sculpture workshop to be held at Fuar İzmir between 15 March and 8 April 2026. The works produced during the workshop will be exhibited during Marble İzmir and then placed in public spaces across different parts of İzmir.”

She emphasized that the goal is to bring marble’s cultural and artistic identity together with the city, in addition to its commercial value.

“We want visitors to get to know İzmir better”

Cumalıoğlu stated that they want participants and visitors to spend more time in İzmir and get to know the city better, and that they are working toward this goal.

“We are developing urban walking routes, conducting inventory studies of marble-clad buildings, and designing alternative tour options to ancient cities so that fair visitors can explore İzmir more closely. We also send informative content via email to all visitors who register online, even before they arrive, about activities they can enjoy in the city during and after the fair,” she said.

“Growing the fair is everyone’s responsibility”

TÜMMER Chairman Hanifi Şimşek stated that Marble İzmir is an organization that must be embraced by all stakeholders of the sector, emphasizing that for the fair’s success, all city dynamics—from hoteliers and restaurateurs to taxi drivers and chambers of commerce—must be involved in the process.

Highlighting the importance of collective ownership, Şimşek noted that with its 31-year history and the earlier Sevgi Yolu period, Marble İzmir represents an effort spanning 36 years.

“I have a three-year-old grandchild today; perhaps in 30 years, they will come and work at this fair. That is why we should see Marble İzmir not only as today’s fair but as the fair of future generations. This fair does not belong to one person—it is our shared value and a Turkish brand ranked among the world’s top three. Protecting and growing this legacy is everyone’s responsibility,” he said.

From 77 million dollars to 2 billion dollars

Providing information about ongoing efforts, Şimşek stated that natural stone exports, which stood at 77 million USD in the fair’s first year, exceeded 2 billion USD in 2022. He emphasized that the fair has grown the sector and that the sector has, in turn, grown the fair.

Noting that Turkey holds a 10% share of a global trade volume of approximately 20 billion USD, Şimşek added:
“The machinery sector plays a crucial role in this success. As product development advances in natural stone, machinery usage increases, which directly reflects in export figures. We thank our machinery manufacturers who fill an entire hall at this fair.”

“We are always ready to do our part”

İbrahim Alimoğlu, Chairman of the Aegean Minerals Exporters’ Association, stated that Marble İzmir is a strategic organization for the sector and emphasized that they are ready to fulfill any responsibility to further strengthen the fair.

Expressing that the association views Marble İzmir as a key platform that boosts exports, Alimoğlu said:
“In this direction, we plan activities aimed at increasing international trade—especially buyer delegations—together with the fair process. We will continue to fully support the fair to bring qualified buyers from target markets to İzmir, help participating companies establish new commercial connections, and increase the sector’s export potential.”

Message of unity

At the end of the meeting, sector representatives shared their views and suggestions on strengthening the fair further. Participants emphasized that the fair’s structure, spanning from production to export, creates great value for the sector and highlighted the importance of advisory board meetings in developing collective wisdom.

They also noted that the International Different Natural Stone Design Competition, organized as part of Marble İzmir and involving young participants from various countries, plays an important role in design, value-added production, and introducing young designers to the sector. Sector representatives expressed their readiness to continue contributing to the fair and working together in cooperation.