Izmir International Fair, the 89th edition of which was held in Kültürpark this year with the theme "Mediterranean", opened its doors. Mayor Soyer said, "We believe that Izmir International Fair will be good for Izmir and our country in order to find morale, to strengthen our feelings of solidarity and to find a solution to the economic problems that every household is experiencing," said President Soyer. The Fair, where masks, distance and cleanliness are at the forefront, will host its visitors with concerts, theater, movie screenings and entertaining activities until September 8.
İzmir International Fair (IEF) was opened for the 89th time with a ceremony held at the Kulturpark Lausanne Gate. Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor attended the opening ceremony. Tunç Soyer and his wife Neptün Soyer, Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan and his wife Hasan Pekcan, Deputy Minister of Commerce Gonca Yılmaz Batur, Izmir Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, İzmir Police Chief Hüseyin Aşkın, CHP Secretary General Selin Sayek Böke, Turkish Exporters Assembly President İsmail Gülle, CHP Party Assembly Member (PM) Rıfat Nalbantoğlu, İzmir MPs Murat Minister, Kamil Okyay Sındır, Kani Beko, district mayors, EBSO Chairman Ender Yorgancılar, İzmir Chamber of Commerce Chairman Mahmut Özgener and guests attended. The IEF, which will be held under intense pandemic measures, is the first fair to be opened in Izmir after the coronavirus epidemic that affected the whole world.
We are proud
In his opening speech, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor said that İzmir International Fair is Turkey's oldest, most comprehensive and most magnificent commercial organization. Tunç Soyer“İzmir is the host city of the Economics Congress, where the founder of our country, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, first realized the idea that the ideal of 'complete independence' can only be based on economic independence. İzmir International Fair is not just a fair, it is the carrier of a great legacy whose idea was thrown at the İzmir Economy Congress. While Izmir International Fair was moving around the world during the Second World War, it opened its doors even in 1943 and brought together the countries that were at war with each other. During the Cold War years, he hosted the USA on the one hand and the red star at Kulturpark on the other. We are proud of reopening the Izmir International Fair by taking the necessary precautions, even though there are restrictions on the number of participation and some of our events due to the pandemic this year.
İzmir means Fair, İzmir means Fair
Stating that İzmir International Fair is the main element of great memories and firsts for İzmir residents, as well as its contribution to economic and political relations, President Soyer continued his words as follows: “The people of İzmir and everyone in our country are saw his piece for the first time at the Fair. The fair was the place where the cosmonaut suit was displayed for the first time under the photograph of Gagarin, who first went to space. We got to know jeans and escalators for the first time at the Fair. The first National Lottery was drawn in 1940 and the first numerical lottery in 1989 at the Fair. We had the chance to see Zeki Müren, the art sun of our country, and many more valuable artists at the Fair for the first time. Every year, we won the love of theater at the Fair with the plays of master actors like Nejat Uygur. The fair has become a place where children run happily with ice cream, cockerel candies, and flying balloons, families spend a day of disaster, love blossoms and indescribable feelings come to life. Every Izmirian runs to Kültürpark with a childish excitement during the fair. Therefore, İzmir means Fair and İzmir means Fair. "
Our cooperation with Mediterranean cities will increase
Pointing out that they want to revive the economic difficulties that grew due to the pandemic at the Fair organized with the Mediterranean theme this year, through international collaborations and commercial relations, Soyer said, “From the very first day, we have determined to establish warm relations with the Mediterranean countries as one of our priorities, just like the climate we share. Because Izmir has been one of the largest and most developed port cities of the Mediterranean in history. The first thing I did when I took office was to write a letter to the Mayors of six Mediterranean cities, including Barcelona, Beirut, Alexandria, Marseille, Thessaloniki, and Venice. I believe that the multifaceted cooperation of Mediterranean cities in terms of economy and culture will create important opportunities for our cities. Based on the ancient heritage of Izmir, which is located at the heart of civilizations, we will open the way for development together with the Mediterranean Union. The Mediterranean means hope, fun, enthusiasm and color. All these values mean Izmir. I believe that we will light the fire of hope at the Izmir International Fair and convince us that there will be better days again ”.
Thanks from Soyer
Stating that he believes that the Izmir International Fair will be good for Izmir and our country in order to find morale in these difficult days, to strengthen our feelings of solidarity and to find a solution to the economic problems that every household is experiencing, President Soyer said, I would like to thank the national and international institutions and sector representatives and our supportive organizations for their contributions. Since its establishment in 1990, I would like to thank İZFAŞ and its valuable employees, who have strengthened their goal of being the 'City of Fairs' of İzmir day by day, and prepared with great effort and seriousness every year. Making it possible for the Fair to be associated with Kültürpark and Kültürpark with the Fair, Dr. Being Behç et Uz, I would like to express my gratitude to the valuable mayors of Izmir who made the Izmir International Fair bigger every year and brought it to today. My last thanks to the people of Izmir who run to the Fair with great excitement and enthusiasm every year. Our Izmir International Fair is a 'peace and culture festival', a 'feast of brotherhood', a 'democracy square', 'hopeful and enthusiastic' like the Mediterranean, 'lively and colorful' like the Mediterranean, 'warm and fun' like the Mediterranean ”.
Özgener: "The fair marks a first"
Mahmut Özgener, Chairman of the Board of the Izmir Chamber of Commerce, is the Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, who, as a citizen of Izmir, decided to open the Fair, which has been going on for 89 years. Tunç SoyerHe thanked. Emphasizing that IEF is the first fair held during the pandemic process, Özgener said that the moral weight of this fair, whose foundation was laid at the 1st Economics Congress with Atatürk's instruction, is strong enough to shoulder the negativity created by the pandemic.
Gülle: "Let's not lose this soul"
Turkey Exporters Assembly President Ismail Shot, fair 89 years, the excitement has given to our country, he said the continuation of the cultural and economic contribution is very significant. Gülle said, “We should not lose this spirit. It is extremely important to open the İzmir International Fair after the Victory Day, which we celebrate its 98th anniversary. It is the tradition of the world that victories in the military field are crowned by trade. IEF is of great importance in this regard ”.
Köşger: "İEF is the lifeblood of İzmir and the Aegean"
Governor Yavuz Selim Köşger, emphasizing the importance of opening IEF, one of the basic dynamics of the socioeconomic development of İzmir, said, “IEF, where communication and promotion can be done together, is the lifeblood of İzmir and the Aegean. IEF contributes significantly to the socioeconomic development and diversity of cultural activities of our city and country ”. Emphasizing that holding the Fair with the Mediterranean theme this year is also very accurate, Köşger said: “The Mediterranean theme, which will be discussed at various events at the fair, will draw attention to the importance of the seas and highlight the country's potential and opportunities in this matter. The Mediterranean basin is a connecting sea of trade and cultural interaction. It will be an important gain for Mediterranean countries to turn their geostrategic advantages into economic advantage. "
Böke: "IEF represents the future"
CHP General Secretary Selin Sayek Böke started her speech by conveying the greetings, love and success wishes of CHP Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Stating that IEF symbolizes a great history and a bright future, Böke said, “It is not a coincidence that the fair took place in İzmir. Throughout its history, Izmir has been a trade center, a world port, a center of democracy culture, and a pioneer of the culture of peace and coexistence. In these times of crisis that the world and Turkey are experiencing, democracy and the culture of living together gain more importance than ever before. For a stronger development, we need to establish a strong social state. I am not talking about a destiny in which the family and geography we were born into determine our destiny. İEF and İzmir represent the history of these principles, most importantly the future. Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç Soyer I would like to thank all those who contributed," he said.
Pekcan: "Our heart did not take a break from this deep-rooted tradition"
Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, emphasizing that they are not willing to interrupt the deep-rooted tradition as a ministry despite these adverse conditions due to the global pandemic and said, “We attach great importance to the legacy of IEF and work with special effort to carry this legacy to future generations. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we could not host our international guests, but this did not prevent us from realizing the 'International Izmir Business Days' programs in this virtual environment. During the pandemic process, we evaluated the conditions in the region in terms of logistics and trade. "We exchanged ideas to revive the center position in world trade by increasing trade in the Mediterranean region, which has been the center of trade throughout history."
Our goal is to make İzmir the most important trade and business center of the Mediterranean.
Izmir's world trade main attraction and charm to reinforce that the center would continue his work as the Ministry of Commerce with all the actors describing Pekcan, said: "Turkey trade fair in the Mediterranean after today, equitable, continue to work for development so as to contribute to regional and global peace will. We hope this year's IEF will contribute to the Mediterranean's feature of being a sea of prosperity, stability and peace for all countries in the region, with the emphasis on 'Mediterraneanness' and 'Blue Continent'. IEF is a memory and color for all Aegean people, including me, with its social and cultural activities. It is very pleasing to continue this deep-rooted future, to let our children live, and to see the fair program getting richer every year. This fair has provided great services to the export and promotion of our country for many years and continues this feature. Our goal is to show Izmir's potential to the world. We want to make İzmir one of the most important trade and business centers of the Mediterranean. "
Mediterranean music enchanted
After the ribbon cutting ceremony, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyervisited the fair with the guests. The concerts to be held at the Atatürk Open Air Theater during the fair started with the Mediterranean Cities Music concert accompanied by the İzmir Symphony Orchestra. Before the concert, Mayor of Lisbon Fernando Medina, Mayor of Barcelona Ada Colau, Mayor of Naples Luigi de Magistris and Mayor of Valencia Tourism Advisor Emilio Garcia connected online and greeted the people of Izmir. The popular rock band Mor ve Ötesi also took the stage at the opening concert.
89. Notes from the IEF
The entrance fees at the fair, which will continue until September 8, are determined as 5 TL. 89. A limited number of stands were set up at İEF starting from the entrance of the Lausanne Gate. There will be frequent warnings in order not to be busy in the entire fair, where there will be a variety of products such as municipal services, education, food, souvenirs. The host Izmir Metropolitan Municipality transfers its services to the fair guests with the stand it has set up.
All events at the fair will be free of charge. Fire of Anatolia will take the stage at the Atatürk Open Air Theater on Sunday, September 6. On the evening of September 7, Ufuk Beydemir and Buray will sing their popular songs. The closing will be made by clarinetist Hüsnü Şenlendirici and Halil Sezai on 8 September. Tickets for concerts with QR code can be purchased from the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Culture and Art website.
Nazım Hikmet Ran's play "Kuvayi Milliye Epic" will be staged on September 6-7 at the İsmet İnönü Art Center. In the area set up in the long pool, visitors will enjoy cinema between 5-8 September. Graffiti works on the theme of "Peace and Freedom" will be carried out every day during the fair. Pantomime and street performances will be performed at Kaskatlı Havuz Stage. The clown show at Lausanne Kapı Stage will be the Bubble Show with the shows of the animators. A cultural conversation titled “From Establishment to Salvation in İzmir, Media and Art” will be held at Ahşap Sahne. There will be music concerts with Mediterranean influences on the street stages of IEF. In the Survivor Track, which will take place on the lawn, the participants will compete alone or in teams to reach the final in challenging tracks. Children will be able to enter the area with their parents.
The 89th Izmir International Fair can be visited between 12.00-23.00. The fair also includes a Mediterranean flavors section in front of the Painting and Sculpture Museum.
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