On 16 and 17 June 2008, CEPMC Executive Board met in Istanbul. The meeting was hosted by our Turkish member IMSAD. After a fabulous evening cruise on the Bosphorus, CEPMC President Jim O'Brien and IMSAD President Orhan Turan invited CEPMC Executive Board members and IMSAD Board members to a festive evening dinner at Sait Halim Pasa Mansion. This was a unique opportunity for intense and fruitful roundtable discussions between CEPMC Executive Board members and some of the most important CEO's from the Turkish Construction Material Producers industry. Invited, the Turkish Ministry of Public Works and Settlement, Mr Faruk Nafiz Özak could unfortunately not join the dinner as he was attending the Ministers Assembly meeting in Ankara. He was represented by his Deputy Undersecretary Mr. Sadık Yamaç. After an introduction from Orhan Turan, Sadık Yamaç made a brief speech on the Turkish Construction Sector and the Ministery policies regarding the construction material industry. Applying European Standards and norms in construction materials industry is the general policy of the Turkish Government. Then Jim O'Brien took the floor to underline CEPMC's aim and role regarding Construction issues at European scale. He also reminded that there exists more than 6.500 manufacturers in the Turkish construction materials industry. 60% of the materials produced is for the inner market and 40% of the materials are exported. With more stable and sustainable Turkish Construction industry, Turkey will be the building materials production centre in the Middle East and the close neighborhood. More pictures available on All the pictures from Istanbul