The opening of the İzmir International Fair (İEF), held for the 81st time this year, was attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TBMM Assembly Representative Güdal Mumcu, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehmet Mehdi Eker, Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Binali Yıldırım, Deputy Health Minister Agah Kafkas, CHP President Aides Perihan Sarı and Adnan keskin, İzmir Assembly Representatives İlknur Denizli, Ali Aşlık, Erdal Kalkan, Rifat Sait, Aydın Şengün, Nesrin Ulema, Hamza Dağ, Hülya Güven, Alaattin Yüksel, Rahmi Aşkın Türelli, Aytun Çıray, Mustafa Moroğlu, İzmir Governor Cahit Kıraç, Anatolian Agency Board President and Director General Kemal Öztürk, Equador’s Ambassador to Ankara Agusto Alevandro Saa Corriere as well as high level bureaucrats and representatives of the business world. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated in his speech during the opening ceremony that when it comes to fairs, İzmir is the name that comes to mind.

Stating that the İEF posters sent all over the world indicates İzmir’s depth of vision, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The İzmir Fair taught Turkey about fairs. The fair has become a giant event today. It is achieving great success.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that the guest of honor province of the fair is Hatay, with its diverse population of many religions and sect, said, “We must listen and understand each other more; consider our differences as wealth. Commerce requires peace. Without peace there can be no commerce. I hope that the trouble with Syria can be resolved.”

Stating that Turkey’s economy takes a step closer to its goals each year with conviction and determination, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have even greater goals. We want to be among the top 10 economies of the world on the centennial anniversary of our Republic. Hopefully, growing 7% per year, we will achieve this goal on the centennial anniversary of the Republic.”

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that İzmir deserves to organize EXPO 2020.
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