Turkey's autoparts sector targets Mid East in USD 7bn export drive

The assault on the region's expanding component and accessories aftermarket will be spearheaded by the country's first official national pavilion at Automotive Aftermarket Middle East (AAME) 2003 - the Middle East's biggest trade show for automotive parts, accessories, tyres, batteries and garage equipment - to be held in March.

Up to 30 companies will be housed in the 264 square metres pavilion, backed by ULUDA, the country's Exports Promotion Bureau, and supported by Turkey's Prime Minister Abdullah Gul. They will showcase a wide range of products, including drive train and chassis components, body accessories and electrical equipment.

Official industry figures show the Middle East and North Africa account for 11% of Turkey's US$ 1.34 billion exports of vehicle spare parts and accessories.

After textiles and food, the automotive sector is Turkey's third largest manufacturing industry, employing more than 500,000 people. Over 3,500 small and medium size companies provide components for many of the world's leading car makers, including General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, BMW, Opel, Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen.

In addition to the Turkish pavilion, nine other countries will have national pavilions at AAME 2003 - Australia, Italy, India, China, Spain, Pakistan, Taiwan and for the first time, the UK and Germany.

Organiser International Expo-Consults (IEC) says the exhibition, to be held at the Airport Expo Dubai, from March 25-27, will double in size compared to the 2002 event, occupying 3,000 square metres. It will feature over 250 companies, from more than 30 countries across North and South America, Europe, the Middle and Far East and Australasia.

'Dubai is the hub of the Middle East's automotive re-export business. Between 50-60% of aftermarket imports into the emirate are re-exported, with the segment's trade worth upto US $1.5 billion a year,' said Mohammed Falaknaz, Vice President, IEC.

'AAME 2003 will provide a window onto this market and act as a vertical showcase serving a sector which can only continue to expand alongside the development of Ducamz, the Dubai Automobile Free Zone.'

Ducamz processes between 500 and 600 vehicles for export on a daily basis, mainly to CIS and African countries. About 90 per cent of the vehicles are right-hand drive.

Having completed the US $10 million second phase of its expansion, the free zone, which covers over eight million square feet, now houses 390 showrooms. In the first phase 236 outlets were opened.