International participation in Türkiye’s Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş

The AIPH-approved International Horticultural Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş will open on 12 August, despite the devastating Turkey-Syria Earthquake earlier this year. There has been much international support, with more than 35 countries agreeing to participate in a pavilion to demonstrate their country’s ornamental horticulture.

Ambassador Erdoğan Kök, Special Advisor for Kahramanmaraş Expo 2023, pictured left, with the Dutch Ambassador to Turkiye, Joep Wijnands, writes for us below about the importance of this International Horticultural Expo to the country and to the citizens rebuilding their lives after the devastating natural disaster.

“After getting the approval of AIPH for organising B Category Horticultural Expo for 2023 in 2018, the people of Kahramanmaraş were excited and highly motivated with their first international city organisation. Despite its natural beauty, strategic location, and cultural/historical richness, Kahramanmaraş was a long time waiting to be explored by international visitors. Therefore Expo 2023 was conceptually and wholly a great opportunity for the city.

After I took up my job as a special advisor, my contacts with international participants bore its fruits, and 30 countries decided to participate. The key point here was to convince our international participants why participating is worthwhile. I will not repeat here the well-known pros of Horticultural Expos. Actually, when I talked about our Expo, the most important thing was to share our story and tell the story of our people’s motivation to be a part of this positive event. And I believe I was able to pass the enthusiasm of the people of Kahramanmaraş and the vision of Mayor Hanefi Mahçiçek to the international delegates.

Unfortunately, a devastating earthquake hit a large southeastern part of Türkiye, including Kahramanmaraş, on early 6 February 2023. Kahramanmaraş was the epicentre of two very high-scale (Mw7,7-Mw 7,6) earthquakes. It is the deadliest natural disaster in Türkiye. As of 30 May, the number of casualties is 50,783, and approximately 12,000 of them are from Kahramanmaraş.

Since the first day of the earthquake, the nation acted quickly and tried to save lives first and provide shelter and food for those survivors. We are also thankful to the international community for their quick and efficient response to Search & Rescue operations and help in providing aid to the earthquake-stricken provinces.

Expo 2023 Kahramanmaraş site was not affected by the earthquake, but the progress of the Expo construction and other activities were naturally halted naturally. As of 1 March, we initiated the remaining work again in spite of difficulties, and we were determined to finish the building. And after consultations with the AIPH, the opening of the Expo2023 was postponed to 12 August 2023.

The Expo site remained the only green area to serve the people of Kahramanmaraş as a place of socialising, recreation, and rehabilitation. Therefore, the participation of other countries has gained a far deeper meaning for the people of Kahramanmaraş. Opening the Expo under these circumstances will also show how the city is quickly recovering.

After our contacts with the participating countries, we are happy to see that they share our views and confirm their status according to the new opening day. We are working with them on making a successful contribution and prioritising children considering the new situation. New countries also showed interest in participation in short-term organisations.

For all of us, Kahramanmaraş Expo 2023 will be a unique experience and show how this Horticultural Expo can continue under extraordinary conditions with the will of its people.”