Natural Stone 2004, a leading international marble, natural stone products and technologies exhibition is to be staged at the CNR Expo in Istanbul, Turkey from September 2 to 5.

Organised by CNR International Trade Fairs, the event expects to showcase the products and services of about 250 participant firms in its first year and hopes to increase the figure to 750 participants and a net exhibition area of 40,000 sq m, in three years. This year exhibition will occupy three halls covering an area of 32,000 sq m, a spokesman said
The exhibition has the support of the IMMIB-Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association; Istanbul Marble Dealer Association; Chamber of Istanbul Marble and Granite Processors and KOSGEB; and is also backed externally by the Center for Development of Stones, India; Stone Technology Center, India; and Roshan Rooz Advertising-Iran (Member of Stone Association of Iran).
“Turkey has one of the world’s largest natural stone reserves, which are considered to be of excellent quality,” says the spokesman. “At present, some 250 types of marbles are extracted and more than 100 different varieties are exported. In the last 15 years, the Turkish natural stone industry has  registered a 13.6 per cent growth in terms of investment, production and exports.”