Leading companies from Victoria, the home of Australia’s automotive industry, are showcasing their products at the ongoing Automechanika Middle East expo in Dubai.

The Victorian automotive industry accounts for 54 per cent of Australia’s automotive exports, said a statement from Victorian Government Business Office in Dubai.

Ford, Toyota and Holden all have a large presence in Victoria, along with over 150 Australian, European, Japanese and American component manufacturers.

The Victorian Government Business Office is once again supporting the Victorian trade delegation which gives companies the opportunity to meet industry leaders and develop business opportunities in one of the most important automotive markets in the world.

John Butler, commissioner – Mena, State Government of Victoria, said: “We have been supporting Victorian companies who come to Automechanika for over five years and it has grown to become one of the most important on the industry’s calendar.”

“There are over a thousand exhibitors from countries all over the world and each year it is an opportunity for our key assemblers, component manufacturers, design houses, toolmakers and other automotive businesses to come to Dubai and share their knowledge whilst also learning the latest industry trends and insights,' he added.

According to Butler, the automotive sector in Australia employs over 50,000 people and each year there are billions of exports.

'So we place a great deal of value on this event each year by organizing site visits to workshops, networking receptions and we look to create business to business opportunities while they are here in the region,' he noted.

Bob Cartwright from Automotive Parts Australia has been attending Automechanika for the past nine years. His company specializes in the supply of genuine original equipment and spare parts to the Middle East wholesaler.

Over the years he has developed strong relationships with customers across the region, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

“I’ve been coming for many years and for me this exhibition is all about showing your customers that you are committed to them year in, year out,” said Cartwright, whose business is based in Seaford, Victoria.

Cartwright said, 'At last year’s show we were run off our feet and we had people lining up to see us. We are passionate about our products and this is a great opportunity to talk to people and generate business opportunities.'

The others Victorian companies taking part in tthe expo include:

•Alloy Race Components – manufacturer of performance clutches
•Autotest Australia – manufacturer of diagnostic and testing equipment
•Automotive Parts Australia – a trading company dealing in automotive parts
•Black Widow Enterprises – manufacturer of vehicle storage solutions
•Crow Cams – manufacturer of performance camshafts and components
•Dyno Dynamics Australia – manufacturer of dynamometer equipment
•LED Technologies – manufacturer of LED lamps for the auto industry
•Mackay Consolidated Industries – manufacturer of automotive rubber product products
•Mainline Dynolog Dynamometers – manufacturer of dynamometer equipment
•Premier Auto Trade - a trading company dealing in automotive parts

A new exhibitor from Gisborne, Victoria, is Jason Oliver whose company Black Widow provides vehicle storage solutions for Four Wheel Drives (4WD).

“We really see this market as an untapped resource and we are expecting to see a lot of interest in our produce from this region,” said Oliver.

“There are a lot of people who drive Four Wheel Drives here and we want to develop and build relationships over a longer term,” he added.

Oliver, who recently won two ‘Young Achiever’ industry awards, said: “We are very keen to get to know the people well, build it up over time and importantly we want to talk, listen and learn while we are here.”

Grahame McCraw from the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association said they have seen the largest number of exhibitors attending the show in the past four years.

“Our display is also bigger and I think that is a reflection on how the word is spreading and shows the successes that companies can achieve here,” McCraw said.-TradeArabia News Service