Marble, almost a quartercentury old hosts participants from 35 countries

A thousand 143 companies, 220 of which is from 35 different countries participate in the Marble-international Natural Stones and Technologies Fair, which is one of the biggest three marble fairs globally. The fair that will take place between 28-31 March 2018 with the hosting of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and by İZFAŞ, is organized in Fuarizmir. Emphasizing that they are almost a quarter century old with the 24th Marble, Z. Gül Şener, Member of İZFAŞ Executive Board said: “It has been 24 years since the first fair. The companies are still quite willing. The number of blocks was 986 last year and it is almost one thousand 500 this year. Our participants put a great effort to exhibit their natural stones”.

Explaining that the blocks that have a total weight of 30 thousand tons will meet with the visitors for four days in Fuarizmir, Z. Gül Şener said that the blocks covering a total of 7 thousand square meters spread the back side of C Hall, open exhibition area and up to the car park next to the D Hall. Underlining that they have the largest block marble area globally, Şener emphasized that the fair would take place on an area of 150 thousand square meters this year. Expressing that there is also an increase in the number of participants, which was one thousand 109 in 2017, Şener said: “Number of participants is now a thousand 143. Num- ber of foreign participants was 213 and this year it is 220, and the number of local companies increased from 896 to 923. We had participants from 30 countries last year and this year we have 35. There is international hall in C Hall for the first time this year. China, Iran, India, Brazil and Afghanistan will participate nationally. 9 thousand 265 B2B talks are foreseen,”.

Explaining that 1st Youth Creative Ideas Platform Competition will be held this year, Z. Gül Şener mentioned that the designs created by the students on the marbles would be assessed by the jury and 22 industrial designs would be selected and exhibited in B Hall during the fair. Şener said: “As İZFAŞ, our exporters’ unions and sector rep- resentatives, we wanted to represent the natural stone of Turkey not only in blocks but also products that are processed and with high added value and at this point we asked for designs from our students”. Şener also said that “Sectors Talk” that would be held for the first time this year, would take place under the name “Architects Meet”.

Underlining that they hold the biggest fair of Turkey in all sectors, Z. Gül Şener also expressed that they at the same time organize the heaviest fair of Turkey. Şener said: “Natural stone sector was already a very strong one in Turkey. 40 percent of global natural stone reserve is in our lands. We will have a quarter century closed after this fair and started a new era”.