Setting foot in the Marche International Des Professionnels De L'Immobilier (MIPIM) for the ... time, Turkey ranks fifth in the number of participants among approximately 90 countries attending one of the world's prestigious real estate fairs.This year, MIPIM is organized on an area of 19,000 square meters and is expected to welcome more than 23,000 visitors from March 14-17 in Cannes, France. The fair stages brand cities and also those that are ambitious enough to design their unique brand. In addition, more than 5,300 investors and financial institutions participate in the fair each year, hosting some 150 networking events and 100 conferences.A delegation of around 600 people and 250 firms in an area of 1,800 square meters represents Turkey to share details of its potential for fair attendees. The event, which is expected to facilitate financing for investment projects worth up to $500 billion, is expected to host 18 Turkish cities, such as Istanbul, Kocaeli, Antalya, Hatay, Eskişehir and Balıkesir, to showcase their unique features and projects worth millions of dollars.Environment and Urbanization Minister Mehmet Özhaseki will deliver a keynote address, evaluating the considerable economic growth over the past decade and detailing the main driving forces and positive impacts.Turkey's participation at the ministerial level is deemed important to more effectively highlight the potential of the Turkish real estate sector, said Yonca Aközer, General Manager of Alkaş, the company coordinating Turkey's participation in the fair.The Beyoğlu Investors Group (BIG), which includes businesspeople that have made investments in Istanbul's crowded Beyoğlu district, is participating in the fair with 45 investors and six projects. In addition, 150 companies, including Istanbul Grand Airport Construction, BIG, Turkish Ceramics, Association of Mineral Exporters, TSKB Real Estate Valuation A.Ş. and many other Turkish real estate and architecture companies, will represent Turkey to emphasize the robust Turkish market.Avi Alkaş, the Country Chair of JLL Turkey, said MIPIM is "the most important and largest real estate and retail organization" and that what makes MIPIM such an important event is the opportunity it offers to real estate companies that do not confine themselves to the region where they operate and aim to go abroad. He emphasized that cities that grow with future-oriented investments must seize the opportunity at the fair.2016 was a tough year for Turkey, the JLL Turkey chair pointed out, underscoring that the difficulties that transpired in 2016 have impacted the Turkish real estate sector. Therefore, he asserts, Turkey must be more active at MIPIM and similar events to reassure investors that the Turkish real estate market is lively.Citizenship law to be promoted at MIPIMAlkaş said that the recently enacted citizenship law that grants citizenship to foreigners that make a real estate investment of $1 million in Turkey must be well explained to foreign investors, adding, "It is a very exciting development that will stir up the construction sector, which is one of the locomotive sectors in Turkey." He said that it is necessary to better explain the opportunities this law offers to foreign investors and that important real estate fairs in Europe, such as MIPIM, are significant platforms to bring investment to Turkey.MIPIM to showcase Turkey's strengthThe organizers of the fair in Turkey are determined to present Turkey's strength in a more effective and powerful tone of voice at MIPIM 2017. Alkaş General Manager Aközer highlighted that they, as the organizers, are ambitious to showcase Turkey's strong market this year, indicating that Turkey's participation at the ministerial level is an important step to achieve that ambition.The Istanbul Pavilion, which will be founded in association with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, is located between the London and Paris pavilions. The Istanbul Pavilion exhibits the top projects in the city. Moreover, the participation of other cities such as Balıkesir, Hatay, Kocaeli, Eskişehir and Antalya underlines the perseverance of Turkey, stated Aközer.Minister Özhaseki will deliver a keynote speech in a session to promote Turkey on the first day of the fair. Afterwards, Turkey Investment Support and Promotion Agency President Arda Ermut is scheduled to provide updated information about the Turkish economy.JLL Turkey Country Chair Avi Alkaş, GYODER Board Member Cansel Turgut Yazıcı and Aareal Bank Group Turkey General Manager Şenay Azak Matt will represent the Turkish real estate sector and share the continuity of investments in the sector in the international platform. In addition, the Istanbul Airport City Breakfast, organized by IGA Airport Construction, and a lunch organized by Esas Gayrimenkul will describe real estate opportunities.