Istanbul, Turkey—Domotex Middle East doesn’t open its gates for another four months, but the fair’s organizers are already recording solid bookings for exhibition space from Turkish and international companies. Turkey’s buoyant economy no doubt has a part to play in prompting registrations from key players in the global floor coverings market, including Peli Parquet, Tuğra Halı, Neuhofer Holz and M.A. Trading. From 7 to 10 November 2013, Domotex Middle East will be showcasing a vast range of carpets and floor coverings from around the world at the Istanbul Expo Center.
“The Turkish economy is expected to grow by 3.7% this year and by a similar rate once again in 2014,” explained Martin Folkerts, director of global fairs at Deutsche Messe. “With its population of 70 million and its central geographic location, Turkey is the perfect host country for Domotex Middle East,” said Folkerts. “The show’s strategic location makes it the ideal springboard for companies wanting to reach new customers in Turkey and the Middle East.
“We’re delighted to report that we are once again recording strong demand for exhibition space from carpet and floor coverings manufacturers,” he added. “Domotex Middle East is an absolute must for anyone in the industry with an interest in doing business with the Middle East, the Gulf States and the entire Arabian Peninsula.”
The period of consolidation which followed the 2010 and 2011 boom years in Turkey’s construction sector has ended, with the local industry now bracing for a new growth spurt. The Turkish government’s plans to foster environmentally-friendly and energy efficient building solutions have sparked fresh interest from construction companies and finance providers, including from Germany. According to the European Real Estate Assets Investment Trend 2013 report by consulting firm Ernst & Young, Turkey ranks among Europe’s most attractive markets for real estate investment.
The Turkish Association of Real Estate Investment Companies (GYODER) is expecting the nation’s construction sector to grow by around 5% in 2013. Underpinning this growth is the country’s strong demand for apartments, which is outstripping the rest of Europe by a significant margin and which will benefit local companies and international suppliers.
The Turkish government’s plans for an “Urban Transformation program” will provide an added boost to the local construction industry. The program calls for $400 billion (U.S. dollars) worth of investment into private apartments and numerous large housing complexes over the next 20 years. Apart from meeting residential housing demand, its objectives are to lift building safety standards in Turkey’s cities and reduce the potential damage caused by natural disasters, such as earthquakes.
The Turkish government also plans to increase the capacity of its domestic hotel industry, especially the number of hotel new-builds by international luxury hotel chains. Other major construction measures in the planning pipeline include a third international airport, a finance center, the Istanbul Seaport project and the expansion and upgrade of the country’s network of hospitals.
The product portfolio on show at this year’s Domotex Middle East will reflect the sheer scale and specific needs of Turkey’s burgeoning construction sector. It will comprise hand- and machine-made carpets, hallway runners and mats, textile and resilient floor coverings, laminates and timber and parquet flooring. It will also feature state-of-the art textile production machinery and materials, such as fibers and yarns; artificial grass and sports surfaces; laying, cleaning and application technologies; and natural stone, marble and ceramic tiles. Domotex Middle East is the only trade fair in Turkey to feature such a comprehensive offering of floor coverings and associated products and technologies.
Domotex Middle East is visited exclusively by industry professionals, including floor covering wholesalers and retailers; exporters, importers, architects, interior designers, industrial and product designers, real estate developers and floor layers. The fair also attracts purchasing executives and senior managers from public authorities, hospitals, educational institutions, sports centers, manufacturing companies, construction firms, hotels, shopping and business centers and the ship and yacht building industry.