Bigger, Brighter Automechanika Middle East 2011 Opens Doors

Online, June 7, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Automechanika Middle East, the region's premier trade fair for the automotive aftermarket, got underway today (Tuesday, June 7th) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Riding on a buoyant aftermarket that holds out promising growth prospects, Automechanika Middle East is 18% larger than the 2010 edition, with organiser Epoc Messe Frankfurt reporting much wider international participation as well as an 11% increase in exhibitors from the UAE. This year there are a total of 1,102 exhibitors from 52 countries with 21 official country pavilions and the support of 31 international industry associations.

"We are extremely grateful to our patron HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the UAE government for their support. Automechanika Middle East has always been well received by the regional aftermarket, thanks to its widely representative nature and dedicated focus on market fundamentals," said Mr. Ahmed Pauwels, Chief Executive Officer of Epoc Messe Frankfurt. "This year's event continues to highlight key developments and trends in the field and reflects the increasing concentration on energy-efficiency, green technologies, and parts and accessories designed to improve efficient use of resources," he added.

"We are glad to welcome the largest-ever participation of national pavilions from Germany and the US, which underlines Automechanika Middle East as the key to unlock the potential of this promising regional market," Pauwels said.

Automechanika Middle East is the leading promotion and networking platform for leading manu-facturers, suppliers and service providers in the automotive aftermarket looking to increase their presence in the region.

Derya Deniz, Senior Marketing Consultant for market-leading Bosch, said: "We are focusing on UAE and GCC countries at this our fourth year in Automechanika. We are getting clients from Turkey, GCC and Africa and are expecting to grow our business."

KYB Sales Manager, Feras Hamarneh said that the company was also focusing on increasing business contacts in the GCC and Africa in a bid to ride the latest growth in the emerging marjets.

Another company also looking for business deals from the UAE and the GCC countries is Valeo, according to their Regional Sales Manager Hakan Bahceci.

Debutants to the show, Cap Group, are exhibiting this year because they recognise the burgeon-ing reputation of Automechanika Middle East in the region. Gary Son, Overseas Sales Senior Manager for Cap Group, said: "This is our first time at Automechanika, we heard a lot about the success of the show and how other companies benefit, so we decided to participate."
"Participating in Automechanika Middle East has been good for our business over the years. This year we have four booths at the show," said Surender S. Khandari, Chairman of Al Dobowi Group. "We have participated in this exhibition since the show began and we are the first com-pany to promote tyres and batteries at the event."

"Automechanika Middle East is a good regional platform for us and gives us good exposure in the Middle East and Gulf countries. This trade show is cost effective for us as we could not possibly visit all the countries in the region to promote our products, but we can reach them here," said Asad Abbas Badami, MD of A-Map (Al Muqarram Auto Parts). "In this show we are creating awareness for our products Solite Batteries, and Fenix Tyres, which we import from Korea, Indo-nesia and China."

Akram Muazzen, General Manager of Rolman World, said: "We are participating in this show for the first time and I find it very interesting. We have participated in other Automechanika shows such as the one in Frankfurt where we promoted our bearings. Our company with a US$ 50 mil-lion turnover was established in Syria in 1969 and it established a presence in Dubai in 1994."

Trade visitors from around the region made their presence felt as they shopped around for new products, best business deals and checked out the latest trends prevailing internationally.

Hassan Jaffar Birjandi of Iran, a regular visitor to Automechanika Middle East, was there on the first day itself. "I make it a point to visit the show every year as I get the best deals here for my business in Iran."

John Carl from France, on the other hand, was a first-time visitor. "I am really impressed with the size of the exhibition. I am looking forward to cutting some great business deals here," he said.

Naressh Mehta, Commerce and Protocol Consul of India, was impressed by the professional and excellent way the show was organised.

Rajat Srivastava, Regional Director (WR) of EEPC India, said that there is a strong participation in the exhibition where 42 Indian companies are present. "Our exhibitors are promoting a com-prehensive range of auto aftermarket parts. Around 60 per cent of Indian auto aftermarket parts are exported to developed countries around the world like the US and Europe."

American visitor Kevin Rozsa, VP of International Sales and Marketing of Trasfer, said: "Auto-mechanika is a serious show and is bigger than I anticipated. I am impressed at the way it is or-ganised. In this show I am looking for driver train products. My company exports to 80 countries around the world."

Mohsen Zaki, Purchasing Manager for DAFCO Group of Dubai said he is a regular visitor to the show and is looking for tyres.

Now in its ninth year, Automechanika Middle East will run until Thursday, June 9th. Stretching over 8 halls, the exhibition reflects the entire scope of the automotive aftermarket industry and present from the first day itself were trade visitors from across the Middle East region, including buyers, key decision makers, garage and workshop owners, professional tuners and modifiers and those involved in automotive sport, work-shop equipment, tyres & batteries, parts & systems, repair & maintenance and accessories & tuning industries.

The event also features the Automechanika Academy that will address key trends and develop-ments in the industry and offer tips and guidance to regional professionals.The Academy, to be held today (Wednesday 8th June), the second day of the three-day trade fair, will feature a panel of distinguished speakers with vast experience in their respective fields. The programme, which is free to trade visitors, is being offered as a key value-add to the main trade event by organisers Epoc Messe Frankfurt.

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