Middle East's exclusive automotive aftermarket re-export trade show set to debut at Expo Centre Sharjah on October 11

The three-day event is being organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

'The Autoparts Re-export show is the region's first dedicated exhibition for the automotive aftermarket Re-export trade and this exclusive focus makes the show completely different from all other similar exhibitions held in the region,' said Mr. Mohammad Salem Al Mosharrekh, Board Member, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), at a pre-show briefing at Expo Centre Sharjah on October 10, 2004.

'With sole concentration on re-export of automobile components, garage equipment, tyres, batteries, and accessories, the Auto Part Re-export show is bound to attract large numbers of trade buyers from the Middle East and North Africa region,' he added.

Mr. Mosharrekh further said that to ensure substantial and quality trade visitor turnout at the exhibition, Expo Centre Sharjah in association with the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, had conducted Road Shows in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iran.

Besides these countries, visitors were also expected from Libya, Syria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Nigeria, he said.

The response received at the Road Shows had been extremely encouraging and a large number of trade visitors have already pre-registered for the exhibition.

Currently, Saudi Arabia is one of UAE's main destinations as far as its auto parts aftermarket re-export goes, and therefore a large majority of the GCC visitors are expected to be from that country.

Among the exhibitors at the show are companies from 15 countries including USA, UK, Spain, Italy, Australia, Thailand, Singapore, India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan. These include several national pavilions. Texas-based automotive aftermarket manufacturers TCC (Technical Chemical Company) and California-based D'vinci Wheels are part of the U.S. country Pavilion at the show.

The Auto Parts Re-export show has received support from major trade associations, chambers of commerce, and export promotion bureaus of several countries.

The Thailand Auto Parts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA) will for the first time mount an official pavilion in the Middle East region at the Show. The pavilion will feature six auto parts manufacturing companies from Thailand.

'The Autoparts Re-export show with its sole focus on re-export of automotive aftermarket assumes special importance in view of the fact that at present UAE acts a re-export hub to the MENA region for this trade,' said Mr. Fasahat Ali Khan, Acting Director General, Expo Centre Sharjah.

'UAE's aftermarket trade is valued at US $ 11 billion a year and about 60% of its aftermarket imports are re-export bound. The UAE is preferred over other countries in the region as a regional hub for the auto parts aftermarket business for several reasons. These include its flexible banking sector, import/export duty structure, world-class infrastructure and stable political environment,' Mr. Khan added.

Mr. Khan further said that the Autoparts Re-export show would further strengthen UAE's position as Middle East's main hub for re-export of automobile components and accessories.

As per estimates, there are 5,840,702 vehicles on the road in the GCC states. Of these, 1,367,858 vehicles are registered in the UAE. This number is increasing at the rate of 10 percent per annum.

'The rapid growth in the number of vehicles in the GCC states, particularly in the UAE, will result in massive demand for spare parts, garage equipment, tyres and batteries, and accessories in the region,' said Mr. Khan.

'The Autoparts Re-export show will offer that much needed exclusive platform to source that requirement,' he added.

A major highlight of the Auto Parts Re-export Show will be the Expo Forum, which will be held on the sidelines of the event. The Expo Forum will provide auto parts importers in the region opportunities to interact with manufacturers, officials from chambers of commerce, export promotion bureaus of different governments, members of various trade associations, and their counterparts from other countries.