“IFAT Eurasia fair and conferences are organized to focus on vital environmental issues.”
“Approximately 35 million tons of municipal waste are generated in Turkey, and this needs to be recycled.”
“With rapidly increasing population and urbanization, the demand for water and environmental solutions is continuously rising in Turkey and across the Eurasian region.”
“IFAT Eurasia contributes to clean environments, sustainable living conditions, circular economy, and combating the climate crisis.”

Turkey is making significant investments in drinking water, wastewater, and solid waste infrastructure. The current development plan includes more than €18 billion in investments, with 1,400 new wastewater treatment plants and 30,000 kilometers of sewage construction. After the earthquake disaster in February, the focus is now on rebuilding the infrastructure in many settlements. In this very context, IFAT Eurasia, the International Environmental Technologies Specialization Fair, brought together approximately 9,000 industry professionals with 203 participants representing 381 companies.

Held in Istanbul from April 27–29, IFAT Eurasia once again proved that it is the most important platform for environmental technologies in Turkey and neighboring regions. The fair’s participation nearly doubled compared to 2021, bringing together decision-makers from Asia and Europe.

Organized by EKO MMI Fuarcılık, IFAT Eurasia was officially opened with a ceremony attended by Jürgen Schulz, the Ambassador of Germany to Turkey, and Eyyüp Karahan, General Manager of Environmental Management at the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change of Turkey.

In his speech, German Ambassador Jürgen Schulz stated that, “The German exhibition industry has been organizing the region’s most important trade fairs for years in close cooperation with EKO MMI Fuarcılık. IFAT Eurasia fair and its conferences focus on some of the most critical global issues today, such as water/wastewater management, recycling, energy recovery from waste, and preventing environmental pollution.”

Eyyüp Karahan, General Manager of Environmental Management at the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, emphasized that “Approximately 35 million tons of municipal waste are generated in Turkey, and this must be recycled. About 25% of this is currently recyclable. While the average recycling rate in developed countries is around 60%, our goal is to increase this figure and implement the necessary actions to achieve it.”

Messe Munich Board Member Falk Senger added, “With the rapidly increasing population and urbanization, the demand for water and environmental solutions is constantly rising in Turkey and the entire Eurasian region. The challenge here is to find innovative, yet economically feasible solutions for both the public and private sectors and to implement them.” He continued, “Environmental products and service solutions will cover a wide range, from access to safe drinking water, industrial and wastewater treatment, professional waste disposal, raw material recovery, occupational safety, to pollution prevention.”

İlker Altun, Administrative Director of EKO MMI Fuarcılık, highlighted the importance of IFAT Eurasia, stating: “With urbanization and changing consumption habits, the quantity and diversity of waste are increasing. A significant portion of the waste can be converted into raw materials or energy, which raises the importance of the recycling sector worldwide. IFAT Eurasia contributes to clean environments, sustainable living conditions, circular economy, and combating the climate crisis.”

Representing 381 brands from 10 countries, 203 exhibitors and 8,764 visitors from 80 countries, IFAT Eurasia covered an area of 28,800 square meters. The top three countries with the most exhibitors were Turkey, China, and Germany, considering international participations from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and China.

The event, organized by Turkey’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Marmara Municipalities Union, German Water, Wastewater and Waste Association (DWA), and International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), addressed environmental investments in the region and the rebuilding needs post-earthquake in Turkey. Programs included Turkish-German solutions for digitalization and automation in the water sector and a comprehensive support program focused on waste management in the healthcare sector.

The 4th International Environmental Conference (IREMCON), which was held as part of the fair, focused on “Global Climate Change Mitigation and Strengthening International Cooperation in Waste Management.”