MARBLE International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, a pioneer in the global natural stone 

sector, has increased its number of foreign visitors by 44 per cent. Foreign exhibitors have climbed from 

193 to 213.

MARBLE -23rd International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair have broken a record with the great interest of the natural stone sector. Exhibitors have engaged in heavy business negotiations in the MARBLE- 23rd International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair which increased its number of foreign visitors to 8,965 with a rate of 44 per cent compared to the last year. 

 

Along with local visitors, 50 thousand and 218 visitors came from 104 countries to the fair organized between 22-25 March, 2017.

 

NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS HAVE INCREASED

23rd MARBLE, embracing the whole natural stone sector from natural stones to construction equipment used in the sector, has included Lebanon, Sweden, Vietnam, and Austria among its exhibitors. 

 

The fair having hosted totally 1,109 exhibitors from 30 countries and 48 provinces increased its number of foreign exhibitors from 193 to 213. 

 

Especially foreign visitors showed great interest in Turkish natural stones with different colours and patterns in the fair where processed products came into prominence.

THE DESIGN MADE A DIFFERENCE 

Italy showed the greatest exhibition to the fair hosted by Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and organized by IZFAS in an area of 139 thousand square meters. China with 37 companies and India with 20 companies followed Italy which exhibited in the fair with 82 companies. Chinese exhibition has doubled in the fair with a growth of a thousand square meters in its area.  

 

The booths in MARBLE where 25 thousand tonnes of block stones were displayed have taken great attention with their designs. Many different designs from lamp shades to night lamps, from wall coverings to tables, from home decoration objects to chimneys were displayed.

 

The inscription of "sold" was observed on most of the construction equipment displayed in an area of 3 thousand and 235 square meters in the fair where marble and natural stone processing industry also took place. 

 

HOTELS WERE FULL 

The fair also revitalized the accommodation, transportation and service sectors. Thousands of exhibitors and visitors pleased the city trade. Izmir hotels provided service with an occupancy rate of 98 per cent and created employment in service sector with fair and stand staff.

 

In addition to uniting natural stone sector, 23rd MARBLE has also brought together the architecture, engineering and construction sectors with 4th International Stone Congress. Calls were made for increase in the use of natural stone in the sessions that attracted great attention by especially students of architecture and engineering departments.

 

In the event organized for the first time under the name of "Sector Talks", pleasant talks were held with the representatives of the sector broadcasters that carry out worldwide broadcasts.

 

Growing each year and becoming the heart of the sector with its exhibitors and visitors, MARBLE will take place between 28 and 31 March 2018 next year.

COUNTRIES THAT VISITED THE FAIR

Albania, Algeria,American Samoa, Antarctica, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, BAE, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji Islands, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guyana, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel,  Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhistan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Lithuanian, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Sweden, Swiss, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Train, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican, Vietnam, Yemen.

 

 

Mevlüt Kaya (Chairman of the Board of Aegean Mine Exporters Union): 

 

In addition to IZFAS, our Mayor made great contributions. We must also remind the support of the Minister of Economy. We saw the importance of the synergy we created with IZFAS in Xiamen. There are two fairs in the field of natural stone and technologies in the world, one in Far East and one in Europe. Fortunately, one of them is in Izmir. Italian companies show great interest as well. We became the number one fair in Middle East and Europe. We are on the top and we aim to keep this position.

Liu Zengxian (Consul General of China in Izmir): 

 

I am very happy to be in this fair. Turkish exhibitors had exhibited in Xiamen Marble Fair and this time exhibitors from China and all over the world came to MARBLE. A large number of Chinese companies exhibited in the fair according to the information we have. In addition, many Chinese companies carry on business in Burdur. Heavy trade relations have begun to be established between China-Turkey and the countries located on the route of the old Silk Road. We, as the Consulate General, will be contributing in these bilateral relations. We hope that MARBLE fair becomes a number one event, more Chinese exhibitors attend the fair and the fair brings great contributions to the Chinese and Turkish marble sector.

 

Flavio Marabelli (Honorary Chairman of the Italian Confederation of Marble Machine Manufacturers): 

MARBLE is a significant fair for this sector. One of the most important reasons regarding the fast growth in the Turkish natural stone sector in the last 10 years is the great spurt in technology. Italy has contributions in this, as well, since the companies using the Italian technology or following this technology experienced fast growth. Turkey is among the first five countries in Italian machine market. USA comes first, Spain has the second place and Turkey has the third place. Turkish market can get all types of machines. Therefore, Turkish market has great importance for us.

Pankaj Chaudhary (Exhibitor-India): 

We have been attending the fair for 12 years. Turkey is one of the world economies that grow very fast and we have been in the Turkish market since 2005. We wish to do business in this fast developing country. Therefore, we are here and will continue to be here. Turkey is also one of the largest countries we export products. It is easy for many people from many countries to reach here thanks to its geographic positions. MARBLE has become a meeting point for us to meet our clients from various countries. Here we meet our clients from Africa and Europe.