According to the statement made by Istanbul Exporters’ Association (İIB), İIB took action after the CIFF International Furniture Fair, which will be held in Guangzhou, China on 18-21 March, and the CIFM Interzum fair, which will be held on 28-31 March, were postponed due to the coronavirus.
İİB is preparing to fill the gap created by the world’s most important furniture fairs in the sector. IIB plans to bring together furniture importers and local exporters from all over the world on the canceled dates in Istanbul on March 23-30. Within the scope of the organization, one thousand of the world’s most important furniture importers are expected to come to Istanbul.
“We want Istanbul to fill the gap”
Ahmet Güleç, President of the Istanbul Furniture, Paper and Forestry Products Exporters Association, whose views were included in the statement, stated that the furniture industry is among the sectors that have increased their exports the most, especially in recent years, and stated that they want to continue this export growth momentum they have created in the sector.
Stating that they exported 3.5 billion dollars last year and increased their exports 22 times in 20 years, and that their 2020 target is to be one of the top 5 furniture exporters in the world and increase their exports to 4.5 billion dollars, Güleç said, “The postponed furniture fairs have created a big gap in the furniture industry in the world. “We want Istanbul to fill this gap.” he said.
“We call the companies they want to see at the meeting and invite them to Istanbul.”
Güleç stated that they are planning a big meeting under the leadership of the Turkish furniture industry, which will bring together large importer companies from abroad and local exporter companies in Istanbul on the canceled fair dates, and said:
“We are planning a large purchasing delegation from abroad. We thought that large importers, who could not come together at fairs in China due to the epidemic, could come together with local companies in Istanbul and make their purchases. We will organize a thousand of the world’s most important furniture importers in Istanbul on 23-30 March. We took action to host them. Our target regions and countries in this big meeting will be the USA, Mexico, Europe, England, Middle East-Gulf countries, Africa, Russia and Turkish Republics. We call our export companies and get the names of the companies and officials they want to reach. This is what they want to see at the meeting. We call companies and invite them to Istanbul.”
Stating that the coronavirus may cause serious losses in the global economy, Güleç said, “As the Turkish furniture industry, we are trying to exist and grow in all kinds of conditions that may occur in the world. With this meeting, we aim to minimize the negative effects of the coronavirus on the global economy as the furniture industry.” he said.
