The 5th international decoration plants, landscape and subsidiary industry special fair Flower Show 2013 opened Thursday in Turkey's Istanbul.
The biggest of Europe, the fair aims to bring both customers and organizers together for products and services for garden decoration, landscaping, plant care and decoration plants.
Around 47% of Turkey's main decorative plants exports consist of live indoor and outdoor plants, 41% of seedlings, saplings and cut flowers, 3% of flower bulbs and 9% of algae and tree branches.
"The fair today was attended by 67 companies from several countries. I'm proud of being able to compete with the fairs abroad, which we had watched admiringly in the past," Istanbul's Mayor Kadir Topbas said during his speech at the opening ceremony.
Noting that Turkey's special climate creates the opportunity to grow any kind of plant, he noted that it reflected "the features of a whole continent."
The 11-meter-high Ravenala Madagascariensis, also called the 'traveller palm', attracted visitors at the fair as the world 's biggest flowering indoor tree.
With the participation of 300 participants from 20 countries, including Slovenia, Colombia, Poland and Austria, the fair in Istanbul Fair Center will be open to visitors until December 1.
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