Held at the TÜYAP Fair, Convention and Congress Center in İstanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, Gold İstanbul 2010 will host some 20,000 visitors from 60 countries including Spain, Russia, Iraq, Egypt and Turkmenistan. Some 390 companies from 15 countries are displaying their products at the fair. Speaking to reporters following the event’s opening ceremony, İstanbul Mineral and Metals Exporters’ Association (İMMİB) President İmam Altınbaş said they expected the fair will contribute to efforts to turn Turkey into a center for gold dealers. “New purchase deals with entrepreneurs, particularly from neighboring countries, will prove the success of this fair.” Altınbaş said they expected this year’s fair to create some $300 million to $500 million in new deals.
Companies at Gold İstanbul 2010 are displaying a wide range of products, featuring the newest gold fashion trends in bracelets, rings and earrings to pearls, watches and trinkets. In addition to these, visitors can also find special machinery used in processing gold and display materials at the event. The Turkish jewelry sector is among the top five in the world, with a $7 billion market. Some 2,500 Turkish jewelry firms provide jobs for 250,000.
