TG Expo, Hamit Özaras: NADMEX is where the entire disaster management value chain comes together

Hamit Özaras, Project Director at TG Expo, for South-East European Industrial Market Magazine

What was the core idea behind launching NADMEX and how has that vision evolved?

Türkiye is one of the world´s most disaster-prone countries. Earthquakes, floods, wildfires, and industrial accidents are not abstract risks for us – they are realities that have claimed thousands of lives and reshaped communities. When we launched NADMEX, the core idea was straightforward but urgent: Türkiye needed a dedicated professional platform where the entire disaster management ecosystem – public authorities, private sector companies, NGOs, academics, and field responders – could come together under one roof, not just to exhibit products, but to exchange knowledge, build partnerships, and drive systemic change.

What has evolved is the scale of ambition. NADMEX began as a national initiative rooted in a local need, but it has grown into a regional meeting point. The community around the event – the exhibitors, the summit speakers, the institutional partners – has expanded every year, and so has the depth of the conversations happening on our floors. Today, NADMEX is not just a trade fair; it is a platform where policy meets product, where field experience meets innovation, and where the slogan "Hayat Değerlidir!" – Life Counts! – is not a tagline, but a genuine commitment that shapes everything we do.

What was the response like at NADMEX 2025 in terms of numbers, diversity, and engagement?

NADMEX 2025 exceeded our expectations across every metric. Over three days, we welcomed more than 12 435 visitors and 137+ exhibitors, with international delegations coming from 10 countries – including Iran, Germany, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, China, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and Libya. The summit featured 95+ speakers across 37 sessions, complemented by 11 hands-on training sessions and 5 live drills. Our social media reach across platforms surpassed 8,4 million impressions over the event period.

The visitor profile is what makes NADMEX particularly powerful. Our attendees include representatives from ministries and AFAD, metropolitan municipality disaster and fire departments, the Turkish Armed Forces, search and rescue teams, hospitals, civil society organizations, universities, private sector factories, and embassies. This cross-sectoral diversity transforms NADMEX into a genuine decision-making arena – a place where purchasing decisions are made, partnerships are formed, and policies are shaped.

Which product areas are seeing the fastest innovation in disaster management today?

If I had to highlight three areas leading the pace of change, I would point to Communication & Software Solutions, Search & Rescue technology, and Energy Storage & Generators.

In communications and software, we are witnessing a profound shift driven by AI-powered command and control platforms, satellite communication systems, drone mapping solutions, and GIS applications that give responders real-time situational awareness at a granularity that was simply not possible five years ago.

Search and rescue technology is evolving just as rapidly – acoustic detectors, thermal imaging, remotely operated vehicles, and even AI-assisted survivor detection tools are moving from R&D labs into operational deployment.

Energy resilience is the third major frontier. Off-grid and solar-integrated power systems, portable high-capacity battery solutions, and smart generator management are becoming critical components in both disaster response and preparedness infrastructure. Crises teach us that power is the backbone of every other response capability, and that lesson is driving enormous investment and innovation.

What are the main goals for NADMEX 2026 and will there be new features this year?

NADMEX 2026 will take place on 2 – 4 December at Istanbul Expo Center, Halls 9 – 10, and our ambitions for this edition are significantly elevated. Our primary goal is to grow the community – more exhibitors, more international participation, and deeper institutional engagement – while raising the quality of the content and the practical value we deliver to every attendee.

This year, the concurrent Disaster Management Summit, Expert Talks program, and hands-on Training Area will continue as the intellectual backbone of the event, addressing preparedness, response, and recovery with both national and international speakers. We are focusing particularly on expanding the international dimension of the summit, bringing in perspectives from disaster management systems across different geographies.

We are also investing in strengthening our eight product groups, particularly around the fast-moving areas I mentioned earlier – software and communications, energy resilience, and education and training solutions, including virtual reality simulation systems that are rapidly transforming how responders train.

The message we want to send to the industry is clear: NADMEX is where the entire disaster management value chain – from early warning systems to post-disaster recovery – comes together. We invite every company, institution, and professional who believes that preparedness saves lives to join us in Istanbul this December.

For detailed information, exhibitor participation, or visitor registration, please visit nadmex.com.