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South African Automotive Week 2009

The South African motor industry has put its full weight behind the South African Automotive Week, which comes at a time when the motor sector is showing signs of emerging from the global recession.
“BMW’s announcement that it is investing over R2-billion in South Africa sets an up-beat tone for South African Automotive Week (SAAW), which includes a two-day ‘Navigating the storm: A roadmap to Vision 2020’ conference,” says
SAAW director Andrew Binning of Inkanyezi Events. The conference, which has been organised by the Automotive Industry Development Centre (AIDC), is fully subscribed, as are tours of the Nelson Mandela Bay automotive industry on the Friday.
Participants include high-ranking political leaders from national, provincial and local government.
“It is heartening to see the support we have received from both the industry and government. They all recognise how important the industry is to the economy of South Africa – and of the Eastern Cape in particular,” says Binning.
Other key meetings include a Supplier Breakfast hosted by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and the annual general meeting of the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers (NAACAM).
A number of major announcements is expected during SAAW. “Some of our exhibitors have told us that they will be sharing important news during SAAW,”

Recognising the importance of the auto industry to the Eastern Cape economy, the provincial government and the Nelson Mandela Bay metro have together ensured that the second South African Automotive Week is staged in the province, says SAAW director Andrew Binning.
“Both have provided financial support and more. The two Industrial Development Zones, the East Cape Development Corporation, and the metro are all playing an active role in the South African Automotive Week (SAAW),” says Binning.
“The Province of the Eastern Cape is the Detroit of Africa – it is where the automotive industry is highly concentrated and it is incumbent upon us as various role-players to reposition this important sector of our economy in order to weather the storm of the global economic environment and continue to play a vital role in local economic development and decent jobs creation,” says Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Ghishma Barry.
“Government is always willing to assist this sector of our economy and the acceleration of the revamp of public transport, logistics system and related infrastructure is one of Provincial Government’s Eight Strategic Priorities in order attract more investment,” she added.
SAAW forms part of the Province’s Transport Month activities.
The Nelson Mandela Bay metro is launching its business and investment incentives at the start of SAAW, which runs from Wednesday, October 6 to Saturday, October 10 in the Moffett-on-Main Retail Park, Port Elizabeth.
“The industry has recognised that SAAW presents a unique match-making opportunity, and we already have over 500 meetings and more than 1 200 profiles of visitors and exhibitors in our match-making programme,” he says.