We aim to make the TRNC a fair center
Interest was very high in the “2nd Wedding and Wedding Preparations Fair,” held recently at the Lefkoşa Fairgrounds, and I had published on my page a short interview I conducted with Okyay Sadıkoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Fairex Fuarcılık. We met with Mr. Sadıkoğlu again, and this time we talked about the “Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Equipment Fair,” which will be held from February 21&24, Fairex Fuarcılık’s goals, and the events it plans to organize in 2008. Here is our interview.
Cem KAR: Mr. Okyay, thank you for making time for us. I’d like to get straight to the point: What products will be exhibited at the “Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Equipment Fair”?
Okyay Sadıkoğlu: Thank you. Yes, at the “Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Equipment Fair,” which will be held from February 21&24, many leading representatives of their sectors will exhibit their products—from companies that design and manufacture industrial kitchen products to companies that provide food and cleaning services to hotels and restaurants.
C.K: To go into a little more detail, will, for example, a hotel, restaurant or cafe operator be able to find what they are looking for among the products on display when they visit the fair?
O.S: They’ll be able to find everything they’re looking for, from A to Z. Just think: companies supplying cutlery to meet all the needs of the sector; firms providing customs services; advertising companies; companies that manufacture children’s toys; firms that decorate hotels; companies that design and sew staff uniforms; gas companies, and so on—all will be in one place. At this fair, we’re bringing potential buyers and professional service providers together and creating an environment where they can meet face to face.
C.K: When people hear “fair,” they tend to think of entertainment and a carnival-like atmosphere, but we know that things are a little different elsewhere in the world—more professional. What does Fairex Fuarcılık have planned for the “Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Equipment Fair” and its other events?
O.S: First of all, we want to organize a sector-specific fair, not a carnival-style one. We want to focus on this and, as I said earlier, bring potential buyers and professional service providers together and create settings where they can meet their needs. To that end, we contacted representatives of all the hotels, restaurants and cafes in our country and invited them to our fair. I should say that we take this very seriously and have devoted a great deal of time to it; we’re even meeting face to face with representatives we haven’t been able to reach and inviting them to our event. Our biggest goal is to create the atmosphere that both exhibitors and visitors to the fair expect.
C.K: What events does Fairex Fuarcılık have planned for 2008?
O.S: We’ll be organizing 11 fairs in 2008! Last year we held the first one, and last month, from January 17&20, we held this year’s first event, the “2nd Wedding and Wedding Preparations Fair,” with great interest from the public and participating companies. While preparations for the “Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Equipment Fair,” which we’ll hold on the 21st of this month, are continuing at full speed, we’ve already started preparing for the “Book, Education and Youth Fair,” which we’ll hold from March 20&23, 2008. As Fairex Fuarcılık, we aim to make the TRNC a fair center. We’re working with all our strength to achieve this.
C.K: We’re also following Fairex Fuarcılık’s work closely and wish you success. Mr. Okyay, I’m sure my attentive readers will want to know about the other events you’re planning to hold this year. How can participating companies and visitors who closely follow fair events find out about this year’s program and Fairex Fuarcılık’s other activities?
O.S: They can follow our work closely on Fairex Fuarcılık’s official website, www.fairex.org. They can also reach us by phone at 0 392 228 84 38 or by fax at 0 392 228 84 39. Participating companies wishing to contact me directly to make a reservation can call my mobile at 0 542 851 77 70.
C.K: Mr. Sadıkoğlu, thank you for this pleasant conversation. I wish you success in your work.
O.S: I’d like to thank HALKIN SESİ, and you, for standing by us at our events and always supporting us, and for encouraging us with that support.