Şekib Avdagiç, Chairman of ITO and Deputy Chairman of IFM:

- "We have laid the foundation for the most significant additional exhibition investment in Europe at the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM). Upon the completion of the new hall construction, IFM's capacity will increase by 40%, and it is progressing with confident strides towards becoming the most effective exhibition venue in our region."
- "With this expansion project, which will raise our total exhibition area to 140,000 square meters, we will cross a strategic threshold on our path to making Istanbul one of the world's prominent centers for the exhibition industry."

Şekib Avdagiç, Chairman of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and Deputy Chairman of the World Trade Center Istanbul (WTC Istanbul), stated: "We have laid the foundation for the most significant additional exhibition investment in Europe at the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM). Upon the completion of the new hall construction, IFM's capacity will increase by 40%, and it is progressing with confident strides towards becoming the most effective exhibition venue in our region."

According to a written statement from the ITO, Avdagiç announced the commencement of construction for a new, two-story, 40,000 square meter exhibition space at IFM. He noted that the Istanbul Expo Center (IFM), which operates with 11 halls under the World Trade Center Istanbul, has successfully positioned itself among Europe's leading exhibition centers through comprehensive infrastructure and technology investments.

Avdagiç shared, "After assuming full operational management of all our halls and obtaining their title deeds, we have, for the first time in 18 years, initiated the construction of an additional exhibition hall. With this project, we will complete the first phase of our expansion, increasing our total exhibition area to 140,000 square meters."

Emphasizing that they have laid the groundwork for Europe's most significant additional exhibition investment at IFM, Avdagiç noted that capacity will increase by 40% upon the new hall's completion. Avdagiç further commented: "IFM is progressing with confident strides towards becoming the most effective exhibition venue in our region. With this expansion project, which will raise our total exhibition area to 140,000 square meters, we will cross a strategic threshold on our path to making Istanbul one of the world's prominent centers for the exhibition industry."

"The 2026 calendar already features 73 exhibitions"

Avdagiç stated that this move will allow them to optimally capitalize on the shift of focus to Istanbul following economic and geopolitical fluctuations in Europe and the uncertainties created by the Russia-Ukraine war.

He pointed out that the Istanbul Expo Center, part of the World Trade Center Istanbul, has become one of the leading exhibition centers not only in Türkiye but also in Europe, thanks to their substantial infrastructure and technology investments. Avdagiç said, "As the 2026 calendar has already been organized, we anticipate the number of exhibitions to reach 73, with a total utilized area of 2,536,000 square meters. The increase in square meter usage stems from hosting larger-scale and more comprehensive events and the inclusive exhibition approach we have implemented from the start. This indicates we are getting closer to our target step by step."

"With Private 5G, we have solidified IFM's power in the global arena"

Avdagiç also noted that in 2025, they launched the first private 5G infrastructure in Türkiye's exhibition sector. "With Private 5G, we have advanced IFM's digital infrastructure ahead of Europe's leading exhibition centers, solidifying its power in the global arena. On another front, we delivered another crucial service for our visitors by constructing the IFM Bridge over the Ayamama Stream. This has facilitated pedestrian access between the E-5 Metrobus line and the Istanbul Expo Center," he stated.

Avdagiç highlighted that undoubtedly, the most important exhibition they host at IFM halls is IDEF – the International Defense Industry Fair, the jewel of the Turkish defense industry. "Hosting IDEF at the Istanbul Expo Center once again demonstrated IFM's capacity to host large-scale international events," he expressed.

Furthermore, Avdagiç mentioned that in 2025, within the Istanbul Expo Center, they launched a new-generation meeting and event area named "IFM Divan," consisting of meeting rooms and multi-purpose halls. "Our Istanbul Expo Center became a member of the European Exhibition Centres Association (EUEF) in 2025. I am confident this membership will foster closer collaboration with European exhibition centers and further elevate IFM's standing in the region," he concluded.