afrol News, 12 September - Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC) will host 2009 Annual National Automotive Conference as part of 2nd edition of South African Automotive Week (SAAW) from October 7-10, 2009.

Automotive Week Director, Andrew Binning said annual (ANAC) was a welcome addition to initiative and joined NAACAM Annual General Meeting, among others, as significant events that would "ensure that the Week is the centre of automotive interest".

South African Automotive Week is the only Trade Show endorsed by NAACAM in 2009.

NAACAM Executive Officer Roger Pitot describes South African Automotive Week as "the premier opportunity for component manufacturing sector in South Africa.''

Held in Tshwane this year, Annual National Automotive conference, boasted a world class speaking panel including several international experts in automotive manufacturing as well as numerous CEO's, who shared case studies and industry insights.

The trade only event including conferences, international exhibition, match-making meetings, site-visits and leisure tourism also carries the endorsement of the South African government and National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA).

The event is most authoritative of its kind on the continent and provides visitors with comprehensive analysis of the African automotive industry and access to and understanding of opportunities on the continent.

"The economies of Africa are developing to the extent that the continent is being viewed as an alluring manufacturing base or market for many foreign and European organisations,'' says SAAW Europe's Michel Alexander-Morlat.

SA Automotive Week (SAAW) has two major themes namely "Wheels into Africa" and "Towards manufacturing excellence".

67% of exhibitors in 2007 indicated that they would "definitely participate again in 2009", while 44% indicated that they had secured business at the event, 9% doing transactions above R500 000. (50 000 Euros)

NAACAM Executive Roger Pitot said "Growing international and national buyer interest and networking makes the SA Automotive Week a powerful market development opportunity."

Binning, said plans were afoot to double the size of the event in Port Elizabeth 2009 and once again attract a large international buying audience.

Representatives from 21 countries attended Trade Show in 2007.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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