MÜSİAD EXPO 2020, organized biennially by MÜSİAD, has opened its doors. MÜSİAD EXPO, the largest trade fair held since the pandemic, welcomed tens of thousands of visitors representing more than 40,000 companies. The number of online visitors to MÜSİAD EXPO 2020, which was held as a hybrid event, is expected to reach millions.

MÜSİAD EXPO, the International Economy, Finance and Trade Summit organized biennially by the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), has opened its doors.

Held as a hybrid event at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Center, in compliance with pandemic precautions and TSE COVID-19 Safe Service standards, the MÜSİAD EXPO 2020 Trade Fair welcomed tens of thousands of visitors representing more than 40,000 companies. More than 8,000 B2B business meetings were held at the fair, which was held in 10 halls and covered a 70,000-square-meter area at TÜYAP.

The event, which strictly adhered to mask-wearing, social distancing, and hygiene regulations, saw all participants and visitors admitted after meticulous checks, and contactless technologies were used throughout the fair.

The fair was jointly opened by Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank and MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister Varank said, “Large-scale events like MÜSİAD EXPO enable us to develop new collaborations with countries with which we have low trade volumes. In these challenging times, joint investment, joint production, and joint trade opportunities established between countries will help build strong economic immunity against the pandemic. The winners of the post-pandemic era will be those who establish collaborations today and take swift action.”

FAIR FIRSTS

One of the firsts of MÜSİAD EXPO 2020 this year was the opening of the "Entrepreneurship Zone" at the fair. Investments that have become Turkey's major strength and are making a splash worldwide were introduced to visitors. Institutions such as YTÜ Teknopark, İstanbul Teknopark, and BTM were featured in this hall.

This year's MÜSİAD EXPO featured caravans catering to all income levels to support "Caravan Tourism." Nationally-produced electric vehicles were also showcased at MÜSİAD EXPO.

At the fair, the Smart Agriculture City Project, Caravan Park Project, Pandemic (Field) Hospital, and the Investment, Production, and Trade Bases projects, which will serve as MÜSİAD's National Production Base, were also launched. The brands included MÜSİAD Future, MÜSİAD Innova, MÜSİAD Invest, MÜSİAD Academy, 2023 YEREL, and MÜSİAD TIA.

The MÜSİAD Investment, Production, and Trade Bases, introduced at MÜSİAD EXPO, are projects designed to foster the growth of SMEs in incubator-like spaces with well-designed conditions for every stage of investment, production, and trade. The production bases, where all needs will be met within the same environment and where production and trade will continue uninterrupted in the event of any disaster or potential recurring pandemic, comprise living spaces where employers and workers can live comfortably with their families.

The fair, attended by 400 foreign procurement delegations from 50 countries, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Sudan, Libya, Qatar, Nigeria, South Africa, Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, also hosted numerous other events.

VIRUS ECONOMY DISCUSSED AT IBF

The 24th International Business Forum (IBF), held on November 19th and attended by industrialists and businesspeople from around the world, was one of these important meetings. Speaking at this event, where the Virus Economy was discussed, IBF President Erol Yarar said, “We must find solutions to the problems that increase unemployment and cause social and individual trauma for people. Therefore, our emphasis on the virus economy at the IBF is our hope that the virus, a constant risk of the 21st century, will end soon, for the benefit of all.”

In his opening remarks, MÜSİAD President Abdurrahman Kaan emphasized that many countries' governments were caught unprepared for this global crisis, which has left people facing serious vulnerabilities in their public health and social security systems.

Kaan continued:

“In the new period, we must develop a critical and common political language aimed at reorganizing the major institutions of the global system, particularly the G-20, the World Bank, the IMF, and the World Trade Organization.

It is impossible for the leading actors in the global hegemony struggle, which we anticipate will be even more fierce in the post-virus pandemic period, to maintain their place at the negotiating table by excluding Turkey from consideration. We wholeheartedly support the economic development mobilization launched by our President and built on three pillars. We have quickly tested how Turkey can once again become a center of attraction for foreign investors thanks to its strong geopolitical advantage when confidence is instilled in the markets. However, it is crucial that this determination continues in the coming period, and especially by adopting a macro production policy, we will address one of our country's most pressing problems: cost inflation.”