Trade Fairs Make Major Contribution to the Economy
Trade fairs and events made a major contribution to the city, regional and national economy, exports and employment. Fairs and events held at Fuarizmir and Kültürpark were visited by more than 1,500,000 people.
Under the auspices of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, organized by İZFAŞ and implemented by various exhibition companies, the fairs brought together hundreds of participating companies, thousands of sector professionals and business people at Fuarizmir. The fairs and events made significant contributions to the city, regional and national economy, exports and employment. Over 1.5 million people visited the fairs and events held at Fuarizmir and Kültürpark.
Looking at export statistics by provinces of operation, the total exports of provinces in the Aegean Region reached USD 40 billion 952 million with the contribution of fairs. According to export statistics by provinces of operation, İzmir achieved 9.09% of Turkey's total exports, with exports totaling USD 23 billion 817 million 180 thousand.
Under the auspices of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, in 2024 at Fuarizmir, Turkey's largest and most modern fairground, and Kültürpark, 29 fairs and the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) International Final welcoming youth from 90 countries, First Lego League local and national tournaments, İzmir Tattoo Fest, İzmirCon 2024 and other events were held.
Fairs connecting İzmir and the sectors in which they are held to the world support the city's goal of becoming an international trade and culture center, while also offering new opportunities for the business world and visitors. At Fuarizmir and Kültürpark, fairs and events with hundreds of participating companies hosted over 1.5 million visitors from all four corners of Turkey and over 120 countries, with the resulting added value of hundreds of millions of lira contributing to the city and national economy, employment and exports.
Aegean region exports reach USD 40 billion 952 million with fair contributions
According to statistics from the T.C. Ministry of Trade, in 2024 Turkey achieved exports of USD 261 billion 925 million 235 thousand, a 2.46% increase compared to the previous year. In exports by provinces of operation, the Aegean Region provinces achieved: İzmir USD 23 billion 817 million 180 thousand, Manisa USD 7 billion 678 million 585 thousand, Denizli USD 4 billion 217 million 734 thousand, Aydın USD 1 billion 849 million 444 thousand, Muğla USD 1 billion 296 million 49 thousand, Kütahya USD 941 million 565 thousand, Afyonkarahisar USD 709 million 273 thousand, and Uşak USD 442 million 651 thousand. In Turkey's ranking by provinces of operation, İzmir ranked 3rd, Manisa 10th, Denizli 15th, Aydın 21st, Muğla 28th, Kütahya 34th, Afyonkarahisar 40th, and Uşak 46th.
Fair momentum to continue in 2025
İzmir will host numerous fairs and events in 2025. Under the organization of İZFAŞ or by various exhibition companies, over 30 fairs and events will be held at Fuarizmir and Kültürpark. In the first three months of the year, HORECA FAIR 6th International Hotel Restaurant, Café, Bakery, Laundry Equipment, Hospitality and Accommodation Technologies Fair, HORECA FAIR - EDT International Out-of-Home Consumption Products, Retail, Food and Beverage Products, Food Processing, Storage, Cooling, Transport and Market Equipment Fair and PACK & PLAST FAIR TURKEY 3rd International Packaging, Packing, Plastics Industry and Technologies Fair will be held 22-25 January, 20th AGROEXPO International Agriculture and Livestock Fair 4-8 February, IMATECH - 3rd Industrial Production Technologies Fair 20-23 February, OPTIC WORLD İZMİR 2nd Optics, Eyewear, Ophthalmology and Technologies Fair 21-23 February. Additionally, FIRST LEGO LEAGUE (FLL) local tournaments will be held 15-16 February and 1-2 March, with the national tournament on 15-16 March.
Marble İzmir turns 30
Marble İzmir - International Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, one of the world's most important gatherings in the natural stone sector and a trendsetter in world natural stone trade, will open its doors for the 30th time between 9-12 April 2025. The 30th Marble İzmir Fair, which will feature thousands of natural stone and machinery displays and important names from the industry, is already attracting strong interest from participants. Like every year, Marble İzmir will this year welcome leading firms in the natural stone sector and thousands of foreign professional visitors from all over the world looking to import Turkish natural stone.
Throughout the year, fairs ranging from the 94th İzmir International Fair to the İzmir Book Fair, from Logistech - Logistics Storage and Technologies Fair to the 19th TTI İzmir International Tourism Trade Fair and Congress are expected to host hundreds of thousands of people. With its fairs and events, İzmir will continue to make a name for itself internationally, while contributing to all sectors from food and beverage to tourism, transportation to accommodation, thereby increasing the city's prosperity and Turkey's exports.
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