The F Istanbul Food, Beverage, and Technologies Fair, organized by Federal Fair and Congress Management, has opened its doors at the Istanbul Fair Center (IFM) as of today. The fair will serve as an important channel for all producers and intermediary companies who aim to meet chain retailers that engage in value-added exports and export for the first time, creating business volume and catering to the growing Turkish market. The fair offers a rich experience where the latest trends in the food sector are showcased, new products are introduced, and collaboration opportunities are explored, allowing industry giants to connect with professional buyers.

The opening of the fair was attended by Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan, President of TÜRES Ramazan Bingöl, a delegation from the Libyan Ministry of Economy, Özgür Sofuoğlu, the Founder of SO Fair Group, foreign consulate representatives, NGO members, protocol officials, and a large number of press members.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül stated, ‘We need to preserve the traditional taste of Anatolian cuisine. Most importantly, we need to obtain geographical indications. We have a lot to do in terms of geographical indications. We have made significant progress in solving this issue. There has been a significant development in the past two years. By integrating schools and centers under regular registration, we can eliminate this problem.’

Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan said, ‘Fairs are the most important means to follow sectoral developments and innovations, increase brand and company promotion, strengthen collaborations, and create new business opportunities. Fairs are particularly a starting point for newly established companies and those seeking to enter export markets, while SMEs looking to diversify their existing exports should focus on these activities. In 2022, while our economy achieved a growth rate of 5.6%, exports also increased by 12.9% to reach 254.2 billion dollars. We have become a country that exports to all parts of the world. We are in a position to export to a total of 229 countries. Our export share in the world economy has increased from 0.5% to 1.02%. In the first half of 2023, our goods exports reached 123.3 billion dollars. The food sector is of great importance for our country’s exports. Food and agricultural products have exceeded the 20 billion-dollar threshold for the first time. Our food exports reached approximately 30 billion dollars in 2022. This is the highest figure in the history of the Republic. Our priority is to ensure that high-tech brands based on competitiveness, added value, and innovation have a greater share in our exports. Increasing our exports through market and product diversification and strengthening our position in the global value chain is our primary goal. In this regard, the fair will create an important channel for all producers and intermediary companies engaged in value-added exports in the growing Turkish market.’

Ramazan Bingöl, President of TÜRES, stated, ‘We can all see that our country has made incredible progress in many areas over the past 20 years. But in the developing world, there is now something very important: Gourmet Tourism and Food Exports. This year, we organized the second fair in cooperation with the sector veteran, SO Fair Group Founder Özgür Bey. We have 500 companies participating in our fair, with nearly 150 coming from 20 countries abroad. For us, it is very important as we promote our flavors, our food, and our country. As part of the fair events, sessions will be held on the TÜRES event stage tomorrow. Many sessions will cover topics such as artificial meat, digital exports, franchising, and granting dealership. Turkey will become one of the most important countries in terms of food exports.’

With the participation of over 1000 brands and close to 100 countries, the fair targets the South Asian and South American markets while bringing together industry giants and professional buyers from Europe, the CIS, North Africa, the Middle East, and distant countries. The fair will host a total of 15,000 professional visitors from nearly 100 countries and provide opportunities for more than 1000 brands in the food industry to establish new business connections through customer matching programs. Additionally, technology companies located in Halls 6 and 7 will introduce the latest trends in food production to visitors for three days.

The fair, which will be visited by e-commerce websites, chain retailers, food exporters, producers and distributors, wholesalers, and companies, will be open to the participation of all stakeholders in the food industry until July 14th.

About F Istanbul Fair:

The F Istanbul Fair, organized by Federal Fair and Congress Management, a subsidiary of SO Fair Group, will take place from July 12th to July 14th, 2023, at the Istanbul Fair Center in Yeşilköy. With a strategy targeting not only the traditional export markets of Europe, the CIS, North Africa, and the Middle East but also the South Asian and South American markets, the fair expects to host a total of 15,000 professional visitors from more than 96 countries.