Businessmen convene in Izmir to explore growth opportunities
IZMIR. November 4. KAZINFORM The Federation for Aegean and Western Mediterranean Industrialists and Businessmen's Associations (ESİDEF) kicked off a giant meeting on Saturday -- the "Business Development Platform '09" -- which brought together over 10,000 businessmen in İzmir to explore business opportunities, Kazinform cites Today's Zaman.
The convention lasted until Sunday evening and provided a venue for more than 30,000 working meetings for participating businessmen.
Minister of Trade and Industry Nihat Ergün, State Minister Selma Aliye Kavaf, İzmir Governor Cahit Kıraç, Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu and the presidents of numerous civil society organizations were present at the opening ceremony. A total of 220 companies from 30 sectors had stalls in the fairgrounds to exhibit their products and services to businessmen visiting from all over Turkey. In addition, groups of businesspeople from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq, Kazakhstan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC) were among the visitors.
Kavaf applauded such organizations in her speech as they open new horizons and broader perspectives for small companies. Underlining that nearly 15 percent of industrial companies are located in the Aegean region, Kavaf said ESİDEF's meetings are of major importance for the overall economy of the country.
Governor Kıraç addressed the audience, too, characterizing the meeting as "the Big Gathering."
"Companies here find opportunity to promote themselves and their products. This organization will contribute dearly to production both in the region and in the country as a whole," he noted. The governor also said there is a sizeable potential for investors in İzmir and recalled some incentives for companies interested in investing in the city. For instance, he said the İzmir Development Agency will allocate TL 62 million in resources for investors by the end of 2009.
ESIDEF Chairman Ramazan DavulcuoGlu asserted in his speech that the platform "is promising to be more than a fair for participants." Last year, 250 companies from 28 sectors set up stands to promote themselves, while over 9,000 businessmen visited the convention grounds. This year, the fair expanded even further, he said.
The event's main sponsor is vegetable oil producer Orkide, Kazinform refers to Today's Zaman.
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