Marble İzmir is opening its doors for the 29th time
Marble İzmir Opens Its Doors for the 29th Time
This year, the 29th Marble İzmir - International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair will open its doors to visitors tomorrow with a ceremony at Fuar İzmir. As Türkiye’s gateway to the world for natural stone, Marble İzmir will bring the industry together from April 17-20, 2024. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay expressed his pride in hosting Marble İzmir for the 29th time, stating, “We will continue to expand our fair every year and shape the future of the natural stone industry from İzmir.”
A Global Meeting Point for the Natural Stone Industry
Hosted by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, the largest global gathering of the natural stone sector, Marble İzmir - International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, will open its doors for the 29th time on April 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM with an official ceremony. Sponsored by Çemar Traverten & Mermer, this year’s fair will accommodate all natural stone companies in the enclosed halls of Fuar İzmir in Gaziemir, while a large section of Hall C and the entire Hall D will be designated for machinery and technology companies.
As in previous years, the block marble area will feature a diverse collection of nearly 1,500 blocks of natural stone. In response to industry representatives' demands, this year’s event will exclusively showcase natural stone, natural stone products, machinery, and technologies.
“We Will Shape the Industry from İzmir”
Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay emphasized the fair's role in boosting Türkiye natural stone exports and expanding the industry's market share worldwide. He stated:
“Marble İzmir plays a crucial role in promoting Turkish natural stone to global markets. For 29 years, the industry has been growing alongside the fair. When Marble İzmir first started in 1995, it hosted 47 local exhibitors and 4,719 visitors. Last year, the fair welcomed 1,015 exhibitors and 79,153 visitors, including 9,056 international attendees from 148 countries. This year, we expect nearly 100,000 visitors from Türkiye and around the world. We will continue to grow our fair each year and steer the future of the natural stone industry from İzmir.”
Increasing Trade Volume with Buyer Delegations
To strengthen its international reach, Marble İzmir has collaborated with commercial attachés in the USA, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, attracting exhibitors and visitors from all over the world. With the support of Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, three buyer delegation programs will be jointly organized with the Aegean Mine Exporters' Association, Istanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters' Association, and Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association.
Industry professionals from target countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea, France, Italy, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan will attend. Additionally, 186 foreign buyers will participate in the B2B (Business-to-Business) program organized by İZFAŞ. So far, 1,912 foreign visitors from 59 countries, including Australia, Italy, the USA, and China, have pre-registered for the fair via the event’s website.
Expanding Exhibitor List
This year’s Marble İzmir will host exhibitors from various sectors, including:
- Natural stone and products
- Mining consumables
- Factory and workshop consumables
- Mining machinery, construction equipment, and heavy machinery
- Factory and workshop machinery
- Environmental protection, recycling, and recovery systems
- Industry organizations, IT, and software companies
- Logistics and transportation services
- Financing and credit services
- Public institutions, associations, unions, and NGOs
- Media organizations
The visitor profile includes global natural stone processing machinery and technology distributors, contractors, architects, project managers, construction firms, wholesalers, and retailers, as well as mining and natural stone companies.
“Different” Designs Come to Life at Marble İzmir
As part of the fair, the 6th International “Different” Natural Stone Design Competition will also be held. This contest brings together young designers with innovative industry firms to enhance Türkiye natural stone exports through design and architecture.
This year, young designers from 20 countries submitted a total of 1,265 projects using natural stone. A jury has selected 34 finalist projects, which will be brought to life by industry leaders. The winners will be announced at the 29th Marble İzmir Fair.
A Boost to İzmir’s Economy
Beyond supporting the natural stone industry, exports, and employment, Marble İzmir is expected to provide significant economic benefits to the city and country, just as in previous years. The fair will positively impact tourism, accommodation, transportation, and food and beverage sectors, creating a vibrant economic atmosphere in İzmir.
Reaching $420 Million in Exports
When Marble İzmir first began, Türkiye’s natural stone exports stood at $77 million. Thanks to the fair’s contributions, Türkiye’s natural stone exports have now exceeded $2 billion. In the first three months of 2024, Türkiye’s natural stone exports reached $420 million, marking a significant increase compared to last year.