Number of foreign participants increased to 251
The 13th MARBLE-International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair expects the participation of 1,038 firms - 251 foreign and 787 local companies.
The fair, organized at the Izmir International Fair Center, will open its doors on March 28 and remain open until March 31.
The Marble fair has become a world brand, said Doğan İşleyen, Izmir Fairs, Culture and Art Activities Inc. (İZFAŞ) general manager.
“There is a growing interest in the fair and the indoor stands were reserved months ago and because of the demand five new prefabricated units were built,” he said.
“After the fair, the prefabricated units will be removed,” said İşleyen. He also indicated that the exhibition area, which was 38,000 square meters last year, has been expended to 40,000 square meters, consisting of 15,000 square meters open area and 25,000 square meters indoors.
Preparations for the fair, which is the second largest in its field, are almost completed, said İşleyen.
The number of foreign participants increased to 251 this year from last year´s 238 and local participant numbers increased to 787 from 714, during the same period, said İşleyen. These types of initiatives help increase the number of foreign customers and visitors to the city throughout the year, he said.
The marble fair and natural stone sector has grown in parallel since 1995, said İşleyen, adding that Turkey´s natural stone exports, which hit $77 million in 1995, exceeded $1 billion in 2006.
Natural stone export upwards $1 bln
Turkey has reached its natural stone export target of $1 billion set for 2008 at the end of 2006, said Arslan Erdinç, head of the Aegean Mine Exporters Union.
Turkey put its signature on $1.70 billion in natural stone and marble exports in 2006, said Erdinç during the Mining and Environment meeting held at the Marmaris Grand Azur hotel .
Natural stone exports reached $515.5 million in the Aegean region. That´s about 53 percent of the country´s total [natural stone] exports, said Erdinç, adding, "We have a 29 percent annual increase."
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