The Istanbul Mineral Exporters’ Association (İMİB) has entered a new era following its ordinary elective general assembly, where Metin Çekiç was elected as the new Chairman of the Board.
In a closely contested race, Çekiç secured the presidency with 272 votes, narrowly defeating fellow candidate Ali Emiroğlu, who received 260 votes.
A Message of Unity and Progress
Following the announcement of the results, President-elect Metin Çekiç delivered a speech emphasizing unity, gratitude, and a shared vision for the future of the Turkish mining industry. He expressed his sincere thanks to all members who participated in the democratic process.
“I would like to thank all our members who came to the ballot box today to express their will,” Çekiç stated. “This result is a clear demonstration of our sector’s spirit of unity and democratic maturity. In this race, the winner is not just one person, but the entire mining industry.”
Çekiç also extended his appreciation to Ali Emiroğlu and the members of the opposing lists for their contributions and commitment to the sector throughout the election process.
Building on Past Success
Metin Çekiç is no stranger to the leadership of İMİB. Having served as the Vice President for the past four years, he highlighted the achievements of the outgoing administration and pledged to build upon that foundation.
“During our tenure, we focused on increasing the international visibility of our industry,” Çekiç noted. “We took significant steps to make Turkish natural stone a stronger global brand through collaborations with the world of architecture and design, participation in international fairs, and the organization of purchasing delegations.”
Future Goals: Innovation and Global Expansion
Looking ahead, the new president outlined an ambitious agenda focused on modernization and market growth. He emphasized that the new management team would work tirelessly to respond more quickly to the industry’s needs and to create a more robust organizational structure.
“Our goal is to take the mineral sector much further in both production and exports,” Çekiç concluded. “We will continue to work with all industry stakeholders to carry İMİB toward a stronger future.”
The election of Metin Çekiç is seen as a move toward continuity in strategic projects, with a renewed focus on positioning Turkey as a leading force in the global mineral and natural stone markets.
