42nd Building Fair – Turkeybuild Istanbul

42nd Turkeybuild Istanbul attracted 68,738 visitors with a 32% increase in international attendance. The largest building and construction materials and technologies fair in the region spanning the Balkans, CIS countries, Middle East and North Africa, and ranked in the top 5 globally, Turkeybuild Istanbul, received 68,738 visitors this year. At the fair, a collaboration was established with Turkey Construction Materials Manufacturers Association, Turkey Tourism Investors Association and ITE Turkey during the Investment Focus Forum. Within the scope of this new partnership, members of Turkey İMSAD gathered with members of TTYD representing tourism investors to ensure the use of safe, healthy, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products in the tourism facilities to be renovated, and discussed the sector's renewal needs. The 42nd Turkeybuild Istanbul, organized by YEM Fuarcılık operating under ITE Turkey which arranges leading fairs in Turkey's leading sectors, hosted 553 participating companies from 12 countries this year. Over 30 events featuring more than 90 national and international expert speakers were held at the fair. Over five days, the pulse of the construction and building sector was taken as current agenda topics were discussed including innovative construction technologies, worker robots, contemporary building materials, innovative business practices and new urban renewal opportunities.

Numerous innovative products were showcased at the fair. Digital solutions and innovative materials in the building sector received significant attention. The fair hosted domestic and foreign companies providing services in construction machinery, hardware and hand tools, structural steel, prefabricated structures, building systems, interior construction and decoration, wall and floor coverings, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, doors and accessories, electrical,

lighting, automation, insulation, building chemicals, paints, roofing, carpentry (doors and windows), facades, automatic doors and gate systems, shading, rough construction, plumbing, elevators, landscape design and software sectors. ITE EMEA Regional Director Kemal Ülgen, noting that for 42 years Turkeybuild Istanbul has served as an international platform reflecting the mirror to Turkey's construction and building materials sector, stated: "In 2019, exports appear to be an important way out for the construction sector. A 7-8% increase in construction materials exports and an approach to USD 23 billion is expected. Improved opportunities in export markets are anticipated for all sub-sector groups. In the domestic market, unlike other years, two further developments are among expectations. One is the activation of the renovation market as demand in new construction work decreases, and the other is increased domestic procurement due to exchange rates limiting imports. In the midst of all these transformations, the heart of the construction sector beats at Turkeybuild Istanbul. We will continue to support the ever-increasing value of the construction and building sectors as Turkeybuild Istanbul," he said.

OVER 240 BUYERS CAME TOGETHER IN VIP FOREIGN PURCHASING DELEGATION PROGRAMS

As it does every year, the fair hosted over 240 foreign buyers from countries such as Algeria, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Germany, Iraq, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, India as part of the VIP Foreign Purchasing Delegation programs organized this year. Through the ITE Connect Matchmaking System, all participants and buyers this year communicated quickly and effectively with each other free of charge via smartphone and internet applications, conducting over 1,200 meetings and seizing opportunities to conclude new partnerships.

IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP IN TOURISM AND CONSTRUCTION SECTORS FOCUSED ON RENEWAL MARKET

During the "Tourism and Construction" session held on the first day of the fair, Turkey Construction Materials Manufacturers Association Chairman Ferdi Erdoğan, Turkey Tourism Investors Association General Secretary Fatih Tokatlı, Turkey Real Estate Participation Bank General Manager Deniz Aksoy and Turkish Eximbank Marketing Department Head Gülpervin Curaoğlu participated in evaluating the material, construction, economic and planning perspectives of the sector throughout the year. Additionally, an important partnership announcement for the tourism sector was shared during the session. Within the scope of the partnership, Turkey İMSAD members gathered with TTYD members representing tourism investors to ensure the use of safe, healthy, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient products in tourism facilities to be renovated, discussing the sector's renewal needs.

The fair presented information and engagement together over five days through various sessions and seminar programs. Among the fair's prominent speakers, MX3D CEO Gijs Van Der Velden and NLE Founder, Architect, Designer and Urban Researcher Kunle Adeyemi came together in a conversation titled 'Architects Talk with Kalebodur'.

Gijs Van Der Velden, emphasizing that design's future lies in innovation-based systems, stated: "New developments must always be followed. 'Digital design' is truly of great importance today. We use this technology as a medium on structures. Before design, we bring all materials together, conduct experiments, and continue our activities on works that yield positive results. Robotics continues to develop in design as it does in every field. We conduct studies to achieve better results by coming together with many professionals in this area," he said. Kunle Adeyemi, emphasizing that urbanization must be approached with planning, stated: "Humanity's relationship with the environment is increasing in parallel in megacities and large communities. We need to deal with urbanization, climate change and varying major urban problems. Digital technologies, architectural processes and production play an important role to the extent that they add value and support solutions," he shared his views. The 43rd Turkeybuild Istanbul, to take place 18-22 April 2020, serving as the international meeting point of the building sector, has already been reserved by many brands.

About ITE Turkey

ITE Turkey is the Turkey office of ITE Group, an international exhibition company with 32 offices in 20 countries and over 1,000 experienced personnel organizing over 130 fairs and conferences annually worldwide. ITE Turkey, organizing leading fairs in Turkey's leading sectors, consists of YEM Fuarcılık, EUF - E International Fair Promotion Services and Platform International Exhibitions companies. Organizing Turkey's leading fairs in the building, tourism, cosmetics, food, rail systems and logistics sectors, ITE Turkey draws its strength from its experience in Turkey and the region as well as from the global network of ITE Group in which its group companies are located. ITE Turkey transfers its strong global network in the exhibition sector to each sector it is part of, creating new business, partnership and purchasing opportunities at the fairs it organizes, thus contributing to the development of these sectors. www.ite-turkey.com For detailed information: Bersay Communication Consultancy Ayben Cumalı / +90 554 844 68 05 / [email protected] Erdi Gürel / +90 535 508 23 65 / [email protected]