Our Mega Project in Kahramanmaraş Recreation Area “EXPO” EXPO is an international activity that creates a discussion platform for human or nature-related problems that concern societies, entertains and educates the public, produces innovations, aims to increase change, development and cooperation, and strengthens communication. While EXPOs add value to the countries they are organized in the fields of economy, politics, culture, art, nature and life, they are instrumental in the effective recognition of cities and countries on the basis of promotion and media. EXPO’s Contributions • Economy It contributes to the development of cities and countries by creating an international business network while generating new sources of income. •Employment Only with the EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş project, 1,000 personnel in the pre-EXPO 2023 period, 4,000 personnel in the EXPO period and 500 personnel in the following period will create employment opportunities, their indirect contributions are far above these figures. •Brand City EXPOs, which increase the level of awareness at the international level, turn the cities they are organized into brands through promotion and media. •Urban Development EXPOs that add value to the city in the fields of economy, politics, history, culture and art increase the awareness level of the cities they are located in. In addition, while playing an active role in eliminating the infrastructure and superstructure deficiencies of cities, it also makes a difference in the field of urban development by bringing value in service areas such as transportation, accommodation, food and beverage. • Environmental Awareness The phenomenon of urbanization, which is spreading globally, will increase the awareness of a green and healthy life and encourage people to live a better life, based on the increasing consumption of natural resources and human-oriented production. •Tourism At least 2 million visitors will come to our city and trigger new tourism projects in Kahramanmaraş and its districts with EXPO 2023, which will provide the opportunity to effectively promote the beauties, history, cultural values and commercial potential of Kahramanmaraş to Turkey and the world. EXPO Activities • Training Programs • National Day, Province and District Day Activities to be Organized by Countries and Cities •Special Events of International Organizations and Institutions • Cultural Programs • Art Events and Exhibitions • Concerts • Exhibitions of Cities Best Practices •Fairs • Commercial Activities • Business Delegation Visits and Commercial Meetings • Competitions Between Countries, Provinces and Districts (Participants) International Horticultural EXPOs •2010/11 Taiwan Taipei •2011 China Xi’an •2011 Germany Koblenz •2011/12 Thailand Chiang Mai •2012 the Netherlands Venlo •2013 Korea Suncheon •2014 China Quinqdao •2016 China Tangshan •2016 Turkey Antalya •2018/19 Taiwan Taichung •2019 China Beijing •2021 China Yangzhou •2021/22 Qatar Doha •2021 Turkey Hatay •2022 the Netherlands Amsterdam •2022 Australia Sydney •2023 Turkey Kahramanmaraş •2024 Poland Lodz EXPO 2023 KAHRAMANMARAŞ / ONİKİŞUBAT EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş, whose main theme is “Nature Friendly City and Sensitivity” in the International B category, will bring economic development not only in the field of horticulture, but also with international cooperation agreements with other EXPO cities and participating countries and will have positive results extending to the neighbouring geography. EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş is the first project in the history of Horticulture EXPOs to be transformed from a Recreation Area into an EXPO Area. Within the 747.000 m² recreation area, it includes • 69.000 m² Crystal Lagoon • 6.230 m² Butterfly and Ladybug Museum • Wedding halls • Wedding Palaces • Herbal Sculptures • Aquaparks • Tennis Courts • Fitness Clubs • Concert Halls • Arasta Cultural Center • 284 Hobby Houses • Cafes and Restaurants. EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş Expo Area 170.000 m² Recreation Area 747.000 m² Green Area 220.000 m² EXPO 2023 with Endemic Plant Diversity Within the area where there are thousands of plant species, around 65 thousand plants in total will be planted or grown with 5,190 trees-shrubs in 35 species, 34,146 shrubs and ground cover in 23 species, 21,434 herbaceous plants in 5 species. Onikişubat Mayor Hanefi Mahçiçek: We have brought the EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş project for a newer and more livable Onikişubat with the purpose of creating awareness in significant issues such as globally rapidly increasing urbanization phenomenon, which is one of the fundamental problems of the 21st century, global warming, increasing consumption of natural resources, people’s current living and consumption habits threatening our world. We determined the main theme of EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş, which will last 192 days between 23 April -31 October 2023, as “Nature Friendly City and Sensitivity”. With EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş, we aim to make our city the center of the world in 2023, by changing, developing and sharing, we aim to increase awareness and dialogue. EXPO 2023 Onikişubat / Kahramanmaraş will act as a lever as our AK Party Deputy Chairman Mahir Ünal stated. While our project will be the largest organization to be held for the second time in Turkey after Antalya EXPO, it will also be celebrated more enthusiastically by combining with the 100th anniversary celebrations of our Republic. I would like to thank the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr.Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to everyone who contributed to such an important project with the goal of 2023, 2053 and 2071, and I wish good luck to our country and our city.