Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül Istanbul and London Fairs…  

Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül began his career as a student at Hacettepe University. While studying during his free time, he worked at construction fairs at the request of the Construction Industry Center. He worked on building automation, security systems, advertising, outdoor advertising, and food fairs. While working full-time, he also served as project manager for some fairs. Gökgül, who first became acquainted with the ornamental plant and landscaping sector at the CYF in Yalova, realized that the international interest he had attracted at the 2009 Yalova fair would translate into significant potential at the 2010 IPM. His fluent English and sales experience enabled him to manage Flowershow's international connections.

He introduced Türkiye abroad…

According to Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül, when the sector fair moved to Istanbul, Turkish plant production was not widely known abroad. This was because Turkish companies traveling abroad only went for their own business and chose not to promote the sector and production in Turkey. There was a clear prejudice against Türkiye abroad.

The foreigners were astonished…

Gökgül analyzes the period, saying, "CYF and Flowershow introduced Turkish producers and the industry to the world, and this is their greatest contribution to the industry." He explains, "Especially in 2011, when three halls were filled, everyone asked each other, 'Are we really that big of an industry?' The fair made a splash worldwide, and foreigners were surprised because they didn't believe the Turkish industry could pull off a professional fair. They were deeply impressed, and the entire IPM board and team were at the Istanbul Fair Center as visitors. In later years, Floraplus Magazine even published a daily newspaper in English and Turkish during the fair."     

Every rise has its fall…

Whether Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül elaborates or not, everyone knows that every rise must come to a fall, and it did. The relocation of the Yeşilköy fair to Beylikdüzü, the economic crisis, and the subsequent pandemic… Now, an internationally recognized open-air exhibition in Sapanca, Sakarya, another internationally recognized fair in Antalya, and the Ödemiş Exhibition, an enduring industry classic, held outdoors… This is the overall picture of the past year and yours.

Untapped potential…

So, given the current state of the industry, how could two consecutive fairs be held—October 13-16, 2022, in Istanbul, and May 2023, in London? We asked Athena General Manager Mustafa Gültekin Gökgül about this. He explained that the industry has untapped potential for years and that he's been closely monitoring it. However, we were once a sector that didn't care about fairs. He added that if fairs were considered, they could open many new doors for the sector.

You cannot organize an international fair with just one fair…

Drawing on his previous trade fair experiences and assessing the sector's expectations and desires, Gökgül planned a trade fair in Yeşilköy, Istanbul, and established the necessary connections. However, holding a trade fair in Istanbul wasn't enough. Simply opening a trade fair and trying to create an international market wasn't enough to bring the sector's global representatives here. So how could he do this? Perhaps he needed to bring the sector to them. This was precisely why he opened the London Trade Fair. Later, as the trade balance at these fairs stabilized and companies' expectations in that market diminished, it was necessary to find markets in other countries. In other words, new trade fairs would be planned in other countries.

Not just London, but other countries and other cities…

So, what was the state of the London Fair? We asked Gökgül about this. He stated that the London Fair had attracted interest from the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany, and that they were making significant progress, but he also outlined the challenges. He emphasized that he and his London partner were working together with Turkey and other countries for the London Fair. He said that while working on the London Fair, companies in almost every country emphasized the importance of the UK market. However, he also explained that he was aware that Turkish companies were showing interest primarily because some companies were selling products to the UK.  

We are not just going for momentary commercial gains…

An international fair needed to be organized in Istanbul, our country's largest ornamental plant consumption region. So, what's the current status of the Istanbul fair, currently being held at the Yeşilköy IFM? He emphasizes that interest in the fair is growing, but that it reflects the industry's product diversity, which is a success: "Every time I step back, look at where we've reached, and say, 'I won't stray from my path.' Commercial considerations alone won't bring lasting success... We will continue on our path with organizations and producers who understand this. I believe the industry will fully understand this in time. We believe Turkey is on the verge of a major transformation. There are significant benefits to extending this increasingly evident change to all economic segments."