Bringing together the global giants of flour, feed, pasta, and pulses technologies in Istanbul, the 11th IDMA Exhibition opened its doors with the participation of thousands of professionals from over 120 countries. Global partnerships, industrial financing, logistical expectations, and the inevitable role of modern technology in food security took center stage at the opening ceremony.

At a time when global supply chains are being reshaped and sustainable food supply has reached an unprecedented level of criticality, global actors of the milling industry are gathering in Istanbul for a strategic summit. Moving far beyond being a mere commercial marketplace, IDMA acts as a leading "ecosystem" that shapes the future vision of the global flour, feed, and pulses sectors. The grand opening ceremony, held with heavy protocol participation, once again cemented Turkey’s global leadership in this strategic production sector. In this major gathering, industry leaders laid out a comprehensive and robust agenda spanning from technological transformation to finance, and from logistics networks to international integration, aiming to host over 10,000 visitors—including more than 5,000 foreign professionals from over 120 countries—and generate a massive business volume of approximately $1 billion.

"IDMA IS THE COLLECTIVE MIND AND VISION OF THE INDUSTRY"

Delivering the opening speech of the exhibition, Muhammet Ali Kalkan, Chairman of the Board of HAGE Group, stated that he has organized countless events throughout his quarter-century career in the exhibition industry, yet he feels the very same opening-day excitement at the launch of every IDMA. Kalkan noted, "IDMA is not just a commercial trade fair; it has evolved into a global platform where the collective mind, vision, and future strategies of all industry stakeholders worldwide converge. Today, we are proud to share this immense synergy with our visitors coming from more than 120 countries."

$34 BILLION IN VALUE-ADDED IN THE LAST 23 YEARS

Taking a brief pause from his intense harvest schedule to attend the exhibition and support industry professionals, Ahmet Güldal, General Manager of TMO (Turkish Grain Board), commenced his speech by congratulating the organizers on this meticulously planned and successful event. Highlighting each of the strategic sectors covered by the exhibition—such as flour, feed, pasta, bulgur, and semolina—Güldal shared the following: "All the sectors represented here are the pride of our nation's industry, having provided a massive $34 billion in value-added to Turkey over the last 23 years. As TMO, we stand closely by our industrialists and exporters during both the harvest and trading seasons, listening to their demands with utmost care. Expectations from this organization are exceptionally high for our country, which ranks first globally in flour exports and second in pasta exports. We view IDMA as an invaluable platform where the latest state of quality and technology is showcased, and global knowledge transfer takes place."

"THIS SUCCESS IS THE RESULT OF METICULOUS WORK"

Speaking at the opening, Mesut Çakmak, President of TUSAF (Turkish Flour Industrialists' Federation), drew attention to the global reach and success of the organization. Touching upon the exhibition's international market value, Çakmak expressed, "Bringing together over 5,000 professional visitors from more than 120 countries under a single roof requires meticulous, determined, and outstanding teamwork. I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire organizing team for bringing our industry together so powerfully on the global stage."

GLOBAL COOPERATION WITH IAOM MEA: TARGETING CAPE TOWN

Ali Habaj, Regional Director of IAOM MEA (International Association of Operative Millers Middle East & Africa), underscored the strategic cooperation they maintain with the IDMA Exhibition. Emphasizing that they attach great importance to the IDMA platform and frequently highlight it across global arenas, Habaj delivered the message: "We aim to achieve monumental projects through the partnership of IAOM MEA, TÜRKİYEM-BİR, and IDMA. One of the most immediate and exciting milestones of this global collaboration will take place at the Cape Town event in South Africa from November 23–26. Together, we will continue to take the steps that propel the industry into the future."

A BRIDGE OF MILLING TECHNOLOGIES BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY

Addressing the audience within the framework of international partnerships and sectoral ties, Ilina Olga, Representative of the Russian Union of Flour and Cereal Plants, focused on the deep-rooted importance of the grain trade between Russia and Turkey. Stating that Russia's robust raw material potential and Turkey's global leadership in flour production and milling technologies complement each other perfectly, Olga noted that Russian industrialists' interest in Turkish flour technologies and modern milling equipment is growing exponentially every day, and platforms like IDMA solidify this technological exchange and shared vision.

FOCUS ON FOOD SECURITY AND MODERN TECHNOLOGY

Conveying the greetings of the Istanbul Governorate as part of the protocol speeches, Okan Leblebicier, Deputy Governor of Istanbul, noted that the exhibition holds critical importance for both Istanbul and the global food supply chain. Stating that food security has assumed a vital dimension alongside the growing global population, Leblebici concluded, "We need the support of modern technologies more and more each day to ensure sustainable food supply and security. IDMA Exhibition undertakes a highly valuable mission by introducing these modern solutions and innovative technologies to the global market," wishing the event to be beneficial for all participants.