India Stonemart 2015 trade fair was held January 29 – February 1 in the city of Jaipur of India, became the focus point of Turkish firms.
Thirty-nine firms, 27 of which are national and 12 under Ur-Ge project, participated in the trade fair; the national attendance in the name of Turkey was organized by Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association (IMIB).
IMIB chairman Ali Kahyaoğlu, who was in Jaipur on the occasion of Stonemart Trade Fair, related the request of full elimination of the quota implemented by India on Turkish natural stone, to Rajasthan Province Prime Minister Vasundhara Raje. Raje promised that he would work for a solution by bringing the matter to the assembly.
The Eighth Stonemart 2015 was launched in Jaipur, India. At the opening ceremony lead by Rajasthan Province Prime Minister VasundharaRaje, in addition to the bureaucrats and natural stone industry representatives of numerous countries; IMIB Chairman of the Board Ali Kahyaoğlu, IMIB Vice-Chairman of the Board Hasan Hüsnü Ayvacı, IMIB Member of the Board Erol Yüce and MIGEM Department Head Eyüp Yadigar were present.
After the ceremony, Prime Minister Vasundhara Raje and IMIB Chairman of the Board Ali Kahyaoğlu discussed the problems in the natural stone exports to India in a bilateral meeting. Kahyaoğlu underscored that the quota implemented on Turkish natural stone by India impacted the trade between these two countries adversely.
IMIB Chairman of the Board, who noted that Turkey purchased a serious amount of granite from India without any quota, said that the sale of blocks to India couldn’t go over a certain figure because of this quota, while there was tremendous potential. He requested that the quota implemented on Turkish natural stone by India should be totally eliminated and free trade should be allowed.
Prime Minister Vasundhara Rajesaid that he will take steps for solving the problems at the assembly after being briefed by his industry consultant.
Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Mineral Exporters Association; who stated that India, which is one of the important markets of Turkey especially in exports of processed natural stone has raised its year 2015 natural stone import quota to 800,000, with an increment of 200,000; added, “The increase in the quota is a significant development for the Turkish marble industry. India is a market we find important as an industry. It ranks sixth in our exports. IndiaStonemart 2015 is an important opportunity for increasing our exports to India. Besides promoting our country and our industry, we will work together to increase our share in the Indian market”.
Compiled by Bülent Tatlıcan
