Automechanika Middle East, the region’s leading trade fair for the auto aftermarket, has made its way into the world’s Top 10 aftermarket events.

The Milddle East event re-confirmed its pole position in the industry with the latest record breaking instalment notching up more than 12,500 visitors, said the organisers.

Eckhard Pruy, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, organisers of Automechanika Middle East, said the Dubai edition ranks second in terms of size amongst the company’s global circuit of 12 Automechanika trade fairs.
 
He said over 811 exhibitors from 44 countries took part at the show. In Germany, it attracts 160,000 visitors and over 4,600 exhibitors, he noted.

'We aim to use our experience from Frankfurt and the global reach to ensure that exhibitors and visitors to the Middle East show share the same great experience. We’re certainly on track for this in Dubai,” he added.

Whilst countries such as Germany, the US and Japan lead the automotive industry, this year’s show saw many new players enter the fold.

'Australia, Brazil and even Peru were all here for a share of the region’s flourishing vehicle spare parts and accessories market, worth over $12.6 billion,' he said.

David Fernandez Pablo, General Manager of Spanish firm L&D Aromaticos said the experience at the AME had been fantastic. 

He said that the show will become the second most important exhibition in the world after Automechanika Frankfurt.

A first timer at the show, Masahiro Shiiya, Deputy General Manager of Aisin Seiki was impressed.

“The show has been organised exceedingly well. We welcomed many visitors, numerous potential sales leads, and it helps us to source market intelligence. We see the show growing more and we will be back next year for sure”.

A similar experience was voiced by Bimal Gandhi of FAG Middle East. He said they had “met potential clients from all over the Middle East, namely, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Kuwait. We had a very good response and many good sales leads.” Gandhi rates the event as “the best show in the region.”

Michael Dehn, Exhibition Manager of Automechanika Middle East said they were looking forward to another record breaking show next year.

The dates for the next Automechanika Middle East have already been set for June 1 to 3, 2008. - TradeArabia News Service