Istanbul, April 27, 2023
Press Release

IFAT Eurasia, the largest environmental technologies trade fair in Türkiye and the Eurasia region, has opened its doors at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center. Held for the fifth time this year, the fair features 203 companies representing a total of 380 brands from 10 countries.

Taking place from April 27–29, 2023, at the Istanbul TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center, IFAT Eurasia International Environmental Technologies Trade Fair brings together national and international experts in the field. Technology manufacturers and service providers, along with all stakeholders in waste management, are gathering at the event. In addition to national participants, country pavilions from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and China are present. In total, 203 companies representing 380 brands from 10 countries are showcasing their products.

Organized by EKO MMI Fair Organization, IFAT Eurasia was officially inaugurated with a ceremony attended by the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Türkiye, Jürgen Schulz, and Director General of Environmental Management of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye, Eyyüp Karahan. In his opening speech, İlker Altun, Managing Director of EKO MMI Fair Organization, stated:
“IFAT Eurasia is the most powerful platform in our region for showcasing new technologies and sharing knowledge. The fair brings together products and services used in the environmental technologies sector, including water and wastewater management, solid waste management, recycling, energy recovery from waste, municipal cleaning, and environmental management vehicles — all under one roof.”

IFAT Strengthens International Cooperation and Investment Opportunities in the Region

Emphasizing that IFAT Eurasia provides a unique opportunity to present Türkiye’s development and ambition in waste management to both national and international visitors, Altun continued:
“At IFAT Eurasia, which assumes the mission of enhancing international cooperation and investment opportunities in our region, the latest systems, tools, and applications related to waste management are unveiled.”

He added:
“Cities are growing, population density and production capacities are increasing. With urbanization and changing consumption habits, both the quantity and variety of waste are rising. A significant portion of this waste can be transformed into raw materials or energy, which increases the global importance of the sector. This is especially vital for countries like Türkiye, which rely heavily on imports for raw materials and energy.”

Taking the floor afterward, Falk Senger, Member of the Management Board of Messe München, said:
“Due to rapidly growing populations and urbanization, the demand for water and environmental solutions is continuously increasing across Türkiye and the entire Eurasian region. The challenge lies in finding and implementing innovative yet economically feasible solutions for both the public and private sectors.”
Senger added:
“Environmental product and service solutions will cover a wide range — from access to safe drinking water, to industrial and wastewater treatment, professional waste disposal, raw material recovery, occupational safety, and pollution prevention.”

He also stated:
“We will host an international panel on the Management of Disaster Waste to support municipalities affected by the devastating earthquake that occurred last February. Various related topics will be discussed in several other panels throughout the event.”

Eyyüp Karahan, Director General of Environmental Management at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye, said in his speech:
“Approximately 35 million tons of municipal waste is generated annually in Türkiye, and it must be recovered. Currently, about 25% of this is recycled. While the recycling rate in developed countries averages around 60%, our goal is to reach similar levels and implement the necessary measures to achieve this.”

German Ambassador to Türkiye, Jürgen Schulz, emphasized the significant role such specialized fairs play in developing international business relations. He said:
“Through close cooperation with EKO MMI Fair Organization, the German trade fair industry has, for years, played a major role in organizing some of the region’s most important exhibitions. IFAT Eurasia, through its fairs and conferences, focuses on environmentally vital topics such as water/wastewater management, recycling, energy recovery from waste, and prevention of environmental pollution — some of the most critical issues facing the world today.”

Launched in Germany in 1964, the IFAT fair family is now held annually three times in China, twice in India, and once in South Africa. In Munich and Istanbul, it is held biennially on a rotating basis. IFAT Eurasia represents the IFAT brand in the Eurasia Region.

You can visit IFAT Eurasia International Environmental Technologies Trade Fair at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center between April 27–29, 2023.
Online invitation: https://ifat-eurasia.com