Tugay: İzmir is Advancing Towards Becoming Turkey’s Capital of Energy
WENERGY Expo – the 3rd International Clean Energy Technologies Fair and Conference – has opened its doors at Fuar İzmir. The fair, which will bring together the energy sector in İzmir until May 24, was inaugurated with a speech by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay, who stated, “İzmir is advancing towards becoming the capital of Turkey in renewable energy with its increasing potential.”
WENERGY Expo, the meeting point of the clean energy sector, has opened its doors at Fuar İzmir. The opening ceremony of the fair, organized by İZFAŞ, EFOR, and BİFAŞ Fuarcılık, was attended by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay; Ambassador Yeşim Kebapçıoğlu, İzmir Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations; Hakan Ürün, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry; Selami Özpoyraz, Chairman of the Assembly of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Zafer Levent Yıldır, Deputy Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality; Tuğçe Cumalıoğlu, General Manager of İZFAŞ; Nuray Eyigele İşleyen, General Manager of EFOR Fuarcılık; Ümit Vural, Chairman of the Board of BİFAŞ Fuarcılık; bureaucrats of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and sector professionals.
“İzmir’s Potential is Increasing Day by Day”
Reminding that İzmir is a city of fairs and that many fairs are organized at Fuar İzmir, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay said:
“Clean energy and renewable energy are very important topics. Everyone should know that the climate crisis, the general course of events, and environmental problems worldwide will soon lead the world into crises of water, food, and energy. The responsibility to increase resilience against these problems is a responsibility placed upon the entire world. However, locally, cities, regions, and countries must continue to work together in solidarity, sharing knowledge and approaching the problem with a collective understanding of solving it.
Energy is one of the most important issues in the world. It is also a very significant matter for İzmir and Turkey. Due to İzmir’s own development dynamics, foresight, and having strong investors, the city is progressing towards becoming the capital of Turkey in renewable energy, particularly in wind and solar energy, with its increasing potential.”
“We Are Closely Monitoring Energy-Related Problems”
Emphasizing the importance of organizing the fair in İzmir, Tugay highlighted the crucial support of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and the Ministry of Trade and thanked the local chambers in the city. Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay said:
“As a city, we are closely monitoring the issues related to energy. We are not just organizing a fair; we are also striving to determine policies for the city. There is a need for infrastructure investment in the energy sector. TEİAŞ needs to carry out this investment, as it is an urgent requirement. Of course, there is still a lot to be done. Part of this falls under the activities of municipalities. We will accelerate our efforts in this regard.
İzmir still has wind energy potential that has not yet been fully utilized. We have numerous small islands within the sea, which receive plenty of wind. These can be considered as potential investment areas. On the other hand, as is the case in countries that have reached a sufficient level of development in this field, rooftops of buildings should be made suitable, and solar energy investments should be expanded in this way.
Another very important resource is geothermal energy. I often state that there is a prejudiced view toward geothermal energy, and it should be examined more carefully. Turkey is the fifth-richest country in the world in terms of geothermal resources. Our region also possesses very intense geothermal resources. We must evaluate these correctly. These are resources of such high value that many countries long for but cannot find. To utilize them, we must implement appropriate policies.
We must become a city that also follows new technologies in the energy field and brings developments into our city and region.”
Mayor Tugay requested support from all stakeholders for the development and growth of the fair.
Özpoyraz: Organized Internationally in Just Its Third Year
Selami Özpoyraz, Chairman of the Assembly of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce, pointed out that the fair, launched with significant efforts two years ago, is being organized with international participation in its third year, stating:
“I believe that holding the fair in İzmir, in a field like clean energy which will shape not only today’s but also tomorrow’s world, is a clear indication of our city’s commitment to the environment, climate change, and sustainable development.”
Ürün: İzmir Offers Significant Opportunities to Investors
Hakan Ürün, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry, said:
“Globally, countries are rapidly continuing their capacity increase in renewable energy. Increasing investments is extremely important to reach our energy targets. We support the clustering in wind energy particularly in İzmir. Offshore wind power installations and floating solar power plants offer significant opportunities for investors in İzmir.”
Eskinazi: İzmir Has Positioned Itself as the Capital of Renewable Energy
Jak Eskinazi, Coordinator President of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations (EİB), said:
“İzmir is the leader in wind energy investments and the rising star in solar and geothermal energy. Now, we can confidently say that İzmir has positioned itself as the capital of renewable energy. The collaborations established here have the power to carry not only this city but our entire country forward.”
Gratitude for the Fair
Nuray Eyigele İşleyen, General Manager of EFOR Fuarcılık, said:
“This fair is very important for İzmir and our country in the field of energy. I sincerely thank everyone who contributed.”
Ümit Vural, Chairman of the Board of BİFAŞ Fuarcılık, said:
“I sincerely thank everyone who has supported our fair in its journey to reach an international level in such a short time.”
Visits to Participants
Following the opening, Mayor Tugay and the accompanying delegation visited the participants of the fair. Tugay first visited the ESHOT booth and received information from Övünç Özgen, General Manager of ESHOT and Deputy Secretary General of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Özgen provided details about the Dynamic Charging Electric Bus Project and other initiatives. Subsequently, Tugay toured the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality booth.
Providing information about the project for the separation and recycling of packaging waste in households, successfully implemented in eight neighborhoods across six districts through the cooperation of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Department of Climate Change and Zero Waste and the municipal company İZDOĞA AŞ, Tugay stated that they could expand the project through collaborations with chambers.
Tugay also visited the booths of İZSU, İZENERJİ, and other participants, wishing them a productive fair. President Cemil Tugay, who later visited the French-Turkish Chamber of Commerce and then Ukraine’s booth, was presented with a gift by Volodymyr Havresh, Vice President of the Bukovyna Business Club, at the Ukraine booth. Finally, Tugay chatted with young professionals working in Turkish autonomous software, domestic motor driver boards, original vehicle design, and renewable energy technologies.
Cutting-Edge Technology at WENERGY
At WENERGY Expo, which will bring together stakeholders of the energy sector until May 24, the latest technologies, newest products, and services in areas including wind, solar, hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal energy, as well as cogeneration, production, distribution and transmission systems, maintenance, repair and service operations in energy facilities, environmental technologies, energy efficiency, energy logistics, digitalization, energy storage, electric vehicles and charging technologies, smart grids and smart infrastructure, and cybersecurity in energy will be showcased.
16 Panels to Be Organized
WENERGY, Turkey’s and the region’s most influential and largest clean energy fair, will bring together more than 300 sector stakeholders with international buyers and investors. The fair, held on an area of approximately 3,500 square meters, hosts participants from various cities and countries abroad. Visitors from countries such as Ukraine, Syria, China, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, and France are attending the fair and conference, during which 16 panels will be held.
