16th MUSIAD EXPO opens Wednesday in Istanbul

ANKARA (AA) - The 16th MUSIAD EXPO is set to open Wednesday in Istanbul where thousands of business people and investors from all over the world will explore new cooperation and partnership opportunities.

The expo, which will be held at Istanbul CNR Expo Center, will host in eight halls 700 companies and 200 thousand visitors from over 100 countries, according to MUSIAD, Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association.

The four-day expo, of which Anadolu Agency is the Global Communication Partner, will welcome business people from various sectors such as construction, textile, automotive, machinery, furniture, food, information technologies and defense industry.

This year’s expo will focus on key aspects of trade with Africa, MUSIAD said.

"MUSİAD aims to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Africa through ensuring that businessmen from Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Ivory Coast and South Africa participate in the expo," the association said.

The expo also aims to draw attention to "High-Tech Port," whose objective is to improve the Turkish defense and aviation industry, according to the event's official website.

The third project will be held in a separate hall in collaboration with the Turkish Presidency and the defense ministry.

"This year’s expo will host ministers of defense, force commanders, airlines, Turkish producers of advanced technology and major producers from over 20 countries including Airbus Boeing and Lockheed Martin," the statement said.

Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association, MUSIAD, is a Turkish NGO that helps facilitate trade between Turkish businessmen and those in other countries and consists mostly of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The association has over 11,000 members and 50,000 member businesses, 86 domestic and 170 international contact points in 65 countries as of Nov. 8, according to its website.