The natural stone industry is participating in the Xiamen Natural Stone and Technologies Fair, which is the world's largest natural stone fair, which has been held by the Aegean Mineral Exporters' Association, the Turkish National Participation Organization for many years, with 47 companies, 60 of which are National Participation Organizations, after three years.
Speaking at the 2022 ordinary financial general assembly meeting held in Aegean Exporters' Associations, Aegean Mineral Exporters' Association President İbrahim Alimoğlu said, “After a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic at the beginning of June, Xiamen Fair is waiting for us. After the quarantine measures were lifted in China in January this year, we quickly completed our preparations for the national participation organization. This year, we will represent our country in Xiamen with 47 companies. A total of 60 companies are participating. We will work with all our strength to promote our country's natural stone with our participants so that our exports to China reach pre-pandemic figures.” said.
We created a value of 40 billion dollars
President Alimoğlu, who said that they carried out many works from training activities to delegations, from fair participation to competitions in 2022, said, “Our goal is to increase our value-added exports, both with our delegations and fair participations, and with our various works. In 2022, we created a value of 6,5 billion dollars with our exports, which we realized as 40 billion dollars throughout Turkey, and our activities in the domestic market. More than 90 percent of the economic size we provided consisted of domestic inputs. Thus, we managed to keep the added value in our country. We aim to increase our contribution to the country's economy exponentially in the coming year. Our mining sector, which is one of the most important equities of our country, is a source of livelihood for 2 million people. On behalf of my industry, I would like to thank the Presidents and colleagues of the organizations that make up the Mining Platform, with which we work to solve the problems of the industry.” he said.
Sustainability in the natural stone industry is on the table
Underlining that they direct their projects with the principle of "Sustainable Mining and Sustainable Export", Alimoğlu continued his words as follows:
“Marble İzmir Fair, the biggest fair of our sector, will open its doors for the 28th time. With the contributions of our association, we will hold the Sustainability Seminar in the Natural Stone Sector on April 28, 14:00, within the scope of the fair. In the seminar, we will also talk about the Sustainability in Natural Stone Guide prepared by Wonasa – World Natural Stone Association and translated into Turkish and submitted to the knowledge of our industry. Our seminar will be moderated by Efe Nalbaltoğlu with the participation of WONASA Director Anil Tanaje, Silkar Chairman Erdoğan Akbulak and Metsims Founder and General Manager Hüdai Kara. On the same day, at 15:00, Eletra Trade Director and Management Consultant Alper Demir will be with us at the Marble Fair to explain the Opportunities in Australia, one of the important target markets of our sector, the Business Culture and the Important Legal and Commercial Developments in the Natural Stone Industry.”
Foreign buyers from 18 countries in Turkey
İbrahim Alimoğlu said, “We will join forces with other Exporters' Associations to our Marble fair and host 18 foreign buyers from 117 countries to have Bilateral Business Meetings and visit the fair with the support of our Ministry of Commerce. I hope the talks will turn into trade and productive cooperation. Our promotional efforts will not only be limited to the Xiamen Fair, but will also reach large audiences with sectoral trade delegations and purchasing committees to target countries, as well as design-oriented exhibitions, seminars and our traditional but always developing Amorf Natural Stone Design Competition.” he ended his speech.