13th AUTOMECH to boost development of Egypt's integrated city for auto spare parts and components

The show will welcome more than 300 leading automotive companies from Germany, France, China, the Czech Republic, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, UK and US, to explore Egypt's booming automotive market.

Organised by leading international exhibition company ACG-ITF in partnership with media Akhbar El Yom Establishment, a leading Arab Publication House, under the theme 'The City of Cars Back Again,' the 13th edition of the prestigious regional trade show is expected to surpass last year's event, where AUTOMECH achieved a regional record for automotive show attendance by hosting 420,000 visitors during its six-day run.

This year's attendees will once again be able to sample the products and services of various local, regional, and international vehicle, work shop, service station equipment, spare parts, and accessories companies.

'Local automobile component sales figures show that this sector reached around LE1.5bn in 2007, representing a 25% increase from LE1.2bn in 2006. The total value of investment in the auto feeding industry, meanwhile, hit LE6.63bn in 2006 compared with LE6.35bn in 2005, an increase of 4.5%; it also posted a rate increase of 25% in 2007. The rise in investment value is mainly attributed to the increase in local automobile component plants, which climbed to 321 factories according to figures from the Industrial Development Authority in Egypt,'

said Eng. Ali Tawfik, Chairman of the Egyptian Auto Feeders Union.

AUTOMECH 2008 will showcase the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends while providing an excellent platform for international manufacturers and suppliers to interact with buyers from Egypt, the Middle East and Africa.

It also fully complements the Egyptian Government's plan to establish an integrated city for automobile spare parts and components; several contracts have in fact been signed with leading German companies to construct facilities in Cairo that will meet growing regional demand, especially in Africa.

The city is expected to attract huge investments and usher in a new era for the region's automotive industries.

Egypt is considered one of the fastest-growing automotive markets in the Middle East and Africa; its auto assembly sector is the largest in the region, hosting several vehicle manufacturing plants owned by prestigious global brands.

The domestic auto service equipment market is expected to rapidly grow parallel to the country's booming economy, which continues to post a steady annual growth rate.

'Last year's 'The City of Cars' campaign attracted a huge audience and led to brisk business for both exhibitors and buyers; our previous success has inspired us to prepare more surprises this year for our visitors, especially on the opening day. We expect our creative ideas to sustain this event's status as a major regional and international trade event,' concluded Mr. Hany Khafagy, Exhibition Director, AUTOMECH AKHBAR EL YOM.