THE Audit Board of International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) that came to Hatay for EXPO 2021 to be organized in Hatay held a meeting at Müze Hotel on Thursday, February 20th.
Assoc. Prof. Lütfü Savaş, Mayor of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, Nihat Tazearslan, Secretary-General of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, İhsan Çakar, Assistant Secretary-General of Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, Tteve Evans and Sven Stımal, Prof. Nazan Savaş, members of EXPO Audit Board,, Ömer Faruk Çelebi, Project Advisor, heads of departments, branch managers, all project and construction contractors attended the meeting.
Mayor Savaş and representatives of AIPH Audit Board delivered presentations on the process of EXPO 2021 so far, works undertaken and works for which projects were prepared for putting into practice and exchanged ideas at the meeting.
Having said that EXPO to be organized in 2021 with the theme Garden of Civilizations will make a great contribution to branding of Hatay Mayor Savaş said, “Today, we came together here to put finishing touches upon Hatay EXPO. We’ll be sharing our project and what we have done so far. On January 21st, 2017, the AIPH family gave us the great news in Dusseldorf and we have been working ever since. Our project was completed 6 months ago in its entirety. And then we put the project out to tender. At the time of putting out to tender, we raised funds for around 60% for the tender value of the year 2019 and 2020. About one and a half month ago, we started the construction in districts Antakya and Defne. We kicked off our works in the district of İskenderun 105 days ago We’re planning to complete them both in November based on the impression my colleagues have and statements of the construction company. We’ll start planting vegetation in the region starting from November. We’ll also continue our important works during the construction process. We’ll start planting the vegetation other than flowers starting from the summer. We have been undertaking professional works for EXPO 2021. You’ll, too, see the great progress we have made when we get the chance of seeing our EXPO works on-site.”
Having said that the ongoing Syrian civil war had an adverse impact upon them Mayor Savaş said, “We’re a city trying to survive in the shadow of the war for the past years. It may be easy to materialize this project in many cities of Europe, yet it is really challenging to realize this project in a region where there seems to be no end to the bloodshed and tears. I’d like to present my cordial thanks to AIPH family for the support they have given us so far. We’re grateful for being a part of this family.”
In the remainder of the meeting, officials from the Metropolitan Municipality and project supervisors delivered presentations on , EXPO 2021, providing attendees with detailed information.
Following the meeting, Mayor Savaş, representatives of AIPH Audit Board and guests were offered traditional tastes of Hatay at the Gastronomy House.
The group visited Hatay EXPO House, funded by Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, at the end of the day.
