Page 3 - ITM NEWS

‘‘I Believe that the ITM Exhibition will Make

Significant Contributions to the Development

of the Sector and the Economy’’

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu stated that the ITM Exhibition is a very important trade
exhibition for the textile industry as well as the economy of Istanbul and Turkey, and added: ‘‘I am pleased that the

exhibition is taking place in Istanbul.’’

stanbul, continuing to be the locomotive of the
Turkish economy today as it did in the past, meets
31.2 percent of the national gross domestic product
Ialone. Half of Turkey’s imports and exports carried
out are done from Istanbul. Istanbul, the capital of
industry, trade, finance, and culture, continues to lead
and inspire many cities in the world.
We held an exclusive interview with Ekrem İmamoğlu
for ITM News, who was sat in the seat of the Istanbul
Metropolitan Municipality in June 2019. We talked
to İmamoğlu about the importance of megacity
Istanbul regarding world trade, the steps and
projects that should be taken for Istanbul to become
a city of ‘exhibitions and congresses’ and the gains
and benefits of organizing international exhibitions
such as ITM in Istanbul. Saying that they aim to be
among the top 10 cities in the world in the first place
in congress and exhibition tourism, Mayor İmamoğlu
indicated the following: ‘‘Of course, our ultimate goal
is to be in the first place as we were before.’’
Istanbul is a truly global trademark in the field of
tourism with its unique natural structure, historical Ekrem İmamoğlu - Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor
and cultural accumulation and diversity. In terms
of its geopolitical location, it is the meeting point of Europe, and Africa. In addition to considering all cities of the world have solved the problem of
the east and the west. First of all, can you please these facts, of course, the problems in the economy transportation with underground and aboveground
describe the importance of megacity Istanbul in have affected the commercial and industrial sectors rail systems networks. In most of these cities, while
terms of the world trade? of Istanbul negatively and continue to affect them. transportation with the rail system reaches close
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, and that is If things go well in Istanbul, Turkey’s economy also to 80 percent, this rate barely reaches 25 percent in
not only in terms of population. At the same time, continues to develop and grow. If the economic Istanbul. Unfortunately, we are not at the point we
it pioneers and inspires many cities both in Turkey progress in Istanbul gives the high sign then so does desire. We have to change this rate. Our efforts are in
and in the world in many sectors such as trade, the Turkish economy. We can easily say that the this direction.
finance, technology, fashion, arts, education, culture, signal flares of the economy of Turkey are in Istanbul. We are talking about a city with approximately 31
and entertainment. We can confidently say that million 700 thousand daily trips with the figures
Istanbul is Turkey’s industrial, commercial, financial ■ In recent years, arrangements and new road for 2018. This number is expected to reach 36
and cultural capital. Istanbul continues to be the works that facilitate in-city, out-of-city and million 800 thousand in 2023. For this reason, we
locomotive of the Turkish economy today as it did in international transportation have made Istanbul need to take urgent and powerful measures in
the past. Istanbul meets 31.2 percent of the national a city easily accessible from all over the world. public transportation and implement the projects
gross domestic product alone. Half of Turkey’s We also know that you have significant projects as soon as possible. When we took the office,
imports and exports carried out are done from in this regard. What kind of contributions will there were subway lines, the construction of which
Istanbul. Approximately one-third of the companies your emerging transportation projects that will be had been stopped for two years. We have given
in Turkey and tourism revenues are originated in our realized have especially in exhibition tourism? our priority to these lines. Through the loans we
city. Due to its geopolitical location, it can carry out First of all, I must emphasize that one of the most received internationally, we immediately restarted
finance trade in the same time period with many important civilization indicators of a city is the level the construction of three metro lines. On the other
regions of the world, especially with the Far East, of public transportation in that city. Many developed hand, we will put our subway and tram lines

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