Focus will be on local businesses, products and services at upcoming Automechanika Johannesburg
Wide-ranging participation by large numbers of overseas exhibitors from a host of countries has been a feature of Automechanika Johannesburg since the first of these trade shows for the automotive aftermarket was staged at Expo Centre, Nasrec, in 2009. This all changes in favour of local exhibitors at Automechanika Johannesburg 2022, which takes place at the same venue from June 7-10.
“Although the only international exhibitors currently signed up to come to Automechanika Johannesburg this year are from Germany, the United States of America, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates there is a strong drive by our organising team to encourage the participation of exhibitors and visitors from Sub-Saharan Africa,” explained Tracy Gounden, Show Director of Automechanika Johannesburg.
“This Africa-centric programme includes promotional roadshows to Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Egypt, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Lesotho where a great deal of interest and a positive vibe is being shown, particularly with the ongoing rollout of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, which offers many profitable business opportunities.
“We see the 7th Automechanika Johannesburg trade show as the ideal meeting place for key buyers and exhibitors from the automotive aftermarket sector across Africa. There is a VIP programme for visitors from Africa, where we, as the organisers, will be assisting in setting up business-to-business meetings including matchmaking, with discounted flights and accommodation available to bona fide African visitors and exhibitors,” added Gounden.
“Our head office in Johannesburg is well geared for the return to one-on-one trade fairs that are now being rolled out worldwide after two years of uncertainty with intermittent lockdowns worldwide in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Michael Dehn, the Managing Director of Messe Frankfurt South Africa.
“For instance, Automechanika Frankfurt, our premier show, will revert to its traditional format of exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and training initiatives, as well as experiential opportunities in September this year. This important upcoming trade show will now be the ideal opportunity for the diverse and wide-ranging stakeholders in the local and international automotive industry to reconnect and network. The interest from both exhibitors and visitors is most heartening as the automotive industry restarts after a two-year hiatus,” concluded Dehn.
