growing market for the automobile industry. Automobiles, automotive spare parts, accessories and components represent a multimillion-dollar trade in MENA countries, which have the highest car-per-household ration in the world. The automotive aftermarket segment in the region is valued at over $11 billion per year. There are more than 58 million vehicles in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the number is rising at an average rate of 10 percent, the latest official figures showed. Rabab Ahmed, international sales manager, ACG-ITF, organizers of Automech, said “the phenomenal growth of the regional automobile industry in recent years has boosted the significance of specialized trade shows like Automech. With regional governments extensively adopting strategies to diversify their economies, the automobile sector has received substantial support in the form of favorable policies and incentives, which has prompted industry players to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technological developments in the sector. Automech 2008 will provide an opportunity for participants to be familiar with the very best the regional automobile industry has to offer.” Egypt is among the fastest growing automotive markets in the Middle East and Africa, and its auto assembly industry is one of the biggest in the region, representing most major brands. Egypt's market for automotive maintenance, repair equipment and tools is expected to increase in parallel with the growth of the national economy, which is currently witnessing steady year-on-year growth. Investments in automotive industries in Egypt are estimated to be worth $1.5 billion. The 13th edition of Automech Akhbar El Yom, the leading Arab and African trade fair for vehicles, buses, motorcar workshops, service station equipment, automobile spare parts, accessories and feeding industries - to be held at the Cairo International Fair Ground, Egypt onJune 5-9, 2008 - is set to attract more than 450,000 trade visitors from Egypt, Sudan, Libya, North Africa, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the GCC countries. Automech, an established business-to-business and business-to-consumer fair, is an important platform for the automotive industry in the region as it presents the latest products, services, technologies and trends for trade markets. Like the previous editions, Automech 2008 will feature an extensive showcase of cars, buses and trucks, in addition to a wide array of spare parts and vehicle accessories. Last year, the Automech exhibition, which occupied 40,400 square meters of exhibition space, attracted more than 420,000 visitors, including 345 exhibitors from Egypt and abroad. Yosry Abdul Maksoud, operations manager, ACG-ITF, said “visitors will notice a tangible change this year, with regards to the layout of the exhibition area that will make it easier for visitors to freely move from one hall to the other. The venue will also feature a separate entertainment section that will host musical concerts featuring famous international performers.” __
