Hosted by the Mediterranean Union of Municipalities, the Antalya Urbanism and Technologies Fair (City Expo Antalya) opened its doors to visitors for the 10th time at the Anfaş Fair Center with the main theme of “Environment and Technology.” The opening ceremony of the fair was attended by CHP Antalya Deputies Cavit Arı and Aykut Kaya, CHP Antalya Provincial Chairman Nail Kamacı, Adana Mayor and Deputy Chairman of the Union of Turkish Municipalities Zeydan Karalar, Mediterranean Union of Municipalities and Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Muhittin BöcekMayors, civil society organizations and political party representatives from all over Türkiye attended.
Mayor Böcek: Fair Will Show the Way to Municipalities
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Mayor and Mediterranean Municipality Union President Muhittin Böcek, expressed his satisfaction with the reorganization of the fair, which they started in 4 during their 2010-term presidency, after a long break. The decision to revive the fair was made by the President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities Ekrem İmamoğlu Böcek, who stated that they received the contract with İmamoğlu, sent greetings from Antalya to İmamoğlu. Mayor Böcek, who emphasized that municipality is not only about construction, but also about making people's lives easier and being with them from birth to old age, said that it requires multi-faceted work in many areas such as local development, environmental awareness, smart cities and climate change. He stated that the fair will guide local administrations in terms of following and using technological developments and will enable national and international cooperation. He also stated that important issues such as the role of technology in environmental protection will be discussed in the local administrations symposium to be held simultaneously with the fair.
Criticism of Arbitrary Practices by President Karalar
Adana Mayor and Deputy Chairman of the Union of Turkish Municipalities Zeydan Karalar also made a speech at the opening, emphasizing that he will continue to stand by mayors who were dismissed through arbitrary practices. Ekrem İmamoğluKaralar, who wished for the return of the municipalities to his duty, said that as the head of the municipalities union, they did not want any mayor elected by the people's vote to be removed from office and strongly opposed this. Karalar, who stated that those who committed crimes should be tried but that the detentions made by raiding houses in the dark of night were not right, expressed his belief that Türkiye would be free of such practices in the near future. Karalar, who stated that in a world where technology is rapidly developing, municipalities should also keep up with the times with smart cities and environmentally sensitive practices, said that the fair would provide an important roadmap in this sense.
Mayors Toured the Fair
Following the speeches, the 10th Antalya City Expo- Antalya Urban Planning and Technologies Fair was officially opened with the ribbon cutting. Muhittin Böcek and guest mayors toured the fair and chatted with participants. Mayor Böcek examined ALDAŞ's 3D printer-based urban furniture production at the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality stand, provided information about ANTSU's work, and offered visitors orange and fig jam. The fair will continue to host visitors until April 20.
