Tugay: Everyone Must Embrace Marble İzmir

The celebration of the Turkish natural stone industry, Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, opened its doors for the 30th time to bring the world together in İzmir. Speaking at the opening ceremony of Marble İzmir, which will be held from April 9–12 at Fuar İzmir, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay stated that Türkiye's natural stones are unmatched globally in terms of their color and patterns. However, he emphasized, “They still have not received the value they deserve. That’s why everyone must embrace this fair. Hopefully, we will see the 50th, even the 100th edition. I don’t think there’s another fair in Türkiye as valuable as this one.”

Founded in 1989 under the name “İzmir Marble Days '89” in Kültürpark and officially organized as a fair since 1995, Marble İzmir – International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, the pride of İzmir, opened its doors for the 30th time. Hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by İZFAŞ, the fair is taking place at Fuar İzmir between April 9–12, 2025. More than a thousand exhibitors are participating in an area exceeding 150,000 square meters, both indoors and outdoors.

The opening ceremony, hosted by Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, welcomed visitors from Türkiye and around the world. Attendees included Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Abdullah Tancan, Denizli Metropolitan Mayor Bülent Nuri Çavuşoğlu, Co-Mayor of Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Doğan Hatun, CHP Diyarbakır MP Sezgin Tanrıkulu, Aegean Exporters’ Association Coordinator Chair Jak Eskinazi, İzmir Chamber of Commerce Assembly President Selami Özpoyraz, Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association Vice Chair Metin Çekiç, Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association Chair İbrahim Alimoğlu, Denizli Exporters’ Association Chair Hüseyin Memişoğlu, Turkish Miners Association Chair Mehmet Yılmaz, All Marble, Natural Stone and Machinery Producers Association Chair Hanifi Şimşek, CHP İzmir Provincial Chair Şenol Aslanoğlu, consuls, heads and representatives of various unions, chambers, associations, district governors, bureaucrats, and domestic and international sector professionals.

Tugay: The Fair Has Great Significance

Beginning his speech by stating that Marble İzmir and the industry have mutually fostered each other’s growth, Mayor Tugay said, “This is a fair whose true value is only understood by industry professionals. Yet it is one of the locomotive sectors of Türkiye’s exports. People outside this circle don’t fully realize how important this event is. We must promote Marble İzmir more effectively. As a country that possesses nearly a third of the world’s natural stone resources, Türkiye should embrace this industry more fully, especially in terms of production, design, and exports. That’s why this fair is so significant.”

“We Will Reach Out to Whoever We Need To”

Emphasizing İzmir’s key role in Türkiye’s trade history, Mayor Tugay said, “This is the city where our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk convened the Economic Congress, assigning special responsibilities in trade. Then came the İzmir International Fair. Since then, İzmir has been seen as Türkiye’s window to the world in trade and exports. We, as a city, must work much harder with all our resources to fulfill this role. And to ensure the success of all our fairs, we must establish the necessary communication with whoever it takes in Türkiye.”

“We Need to Cooperate and Work Together”

Mayor Tugay thanked chambers and associations for supporting the fair, and added, “If we can talk about problems in a way that we understand one another, if we can rise above all political interests and strive together in unity, we can make everything better. In these difficult times in Türkiye and globally, what we need most is to support our industry representatives with a holistic perspective that prioritizes national interests. Only then can people find jobs, and foreign currency flow into our country. Many people who are genuinely striving to invest don’t get the support they need. It’s clear that mistakes are being made, and no one has the right to let this continue. Türkiye must become a country where people live in prosperity.”

“Exports Could Reach $5 Billion”

Mayor Tugay emphasized the uniqueness of Türkiye’s natural stones, saying, “But they haven’t achieved the value they deserve. First, we lack marketing skills. Second, there are problems with processing. Everyone must embrace this fair. Hopefully, we’ll celebrate the 50th, even the 100th editions. I don’t believe there’s a more valuable fair in Türkiye. There’s no reason why Türkiye’s $2 billion in natural stone exports can’t grow to $5 billion. We just need to increase added value and improve marketing. I believe we can achieve that.”

Tancan: It Has Become a Major Platform

Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Abdullah Tancan said that Marble İzmir Fair has evolved into a major platform shaping the future of the natural stone industry by bringing together professionals not just from Türkiye but around the world. “I believe this important fair will create new collaborations, strong business connections, and significant opportunities for participants, while contributing to the development of our sector, the growth of Türkiye’s economy, and global trade,” he stated.

“Driving Force Behind 30-Fold Export Growth”

İzmir Chamber of Commerce Assembly Chair Selami Özpoyraz said, “Starting 30 years ago, Marble İzmir has become one of the most prestigious natural stone fairs not just in Türkiye but globally. We all know the fair contributes economically to our city. Fuar İzmir is now a major hub for Turkish trade fairs.”

Aegean Exporters’ Association Coordinator Chair Jak Eskinazi wished all participants a successful and opportunity-filled event, thanking everyone involved.

Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association Vice Chair Metin Çekiç highlighted that Marble İzmir, showcasing the marble and natural stone industry for 30 years, is a strong platform where Türkiye’s rich resources meet the world—a meeting point for trade, design, labor, and vision.

Aegean Mineral Exporters’ Association Chair İbrahim Alimoğlu said, “As one of the leading global fairs in this sector, Marble İzmir also promotes our country to the world. Since its first year, Türkiye’s natural stone exports have increased 30-fold, and this fair has been a driving force behind it.”