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As preparations for this year’s edition of the Lagos International Motor Fair & Africa Autoparts Expo incorporating the Africa Motorcycle & Tricycle Expo gather full steam, organisers of the annual all-inclusive event have stated that the forthcoming edition scheduled to hold at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos from June 4 -7, 2024, is aimed at reinforcing their focus on enhancing the development of a thriving automotive industry in West Africa using Nigeria as the hub.
The Chairman of the Organising committee of the Lagos International Motor Fair & Africa Autoparts Expo, Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, who is also the CEO/Maanaging Director, BKG Exhibitions Limited, stated this at a media parley, Monday in Lagos, as he unfolded plans for the event, which he confirmed, is tailored to offering full value for the exhibitors.
“Nigeria is endowed with natural as well as man-made resources to become one of the most vibrant automotive industry giant in the world and as such we in partnership with other well-minded players . We will always deploy all we can to see that the country attains this height sooner than expected. This informs our resolve to use our events despite the challenges which keep increasing to support the rapid growth of the industry,” he said.
”We have been using the events over the years to drive more investment into automobile spare parts and accessories manufacturing in Nigeria as well as boosting aftermarket activities in the sector with the objective of showcasing the capacities and potentials of this important sector of the economy,” Agwu added.
The BKG Exhibitions Chie Executive further revealed that to achieve these, this year’s edition of the event will focus on Business-to-Business interface between the exhibiting Original Equipment Manufacturers [OEMs] and dealers in auto parts from Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
“We are aiming at using such platform to see to working business partnerships between them and the OEMs that will lead to them setting up plants in Nigeria to manufacture parts and accessories . The event is aiming at spurring the rapid springing up of companies that manufacture these components parts and use it to enhance the policy leading to the establishment of a virile automotive sector in the country, ” he maintained.
On the challenges of his organisation in hosting the annual events, Agwu said, “Organising the event has been very challenging. We are only trying to find a way to push it as a key event in the sector . We cannot help but use the event to draw the necessary attention to the sector. Government should bail out the automobile companies operating in the country. It is a sector that affects virtually everything. It occupies prime position in the economy. If it is not done now, it will in the very near future affect a whole lot in the lives of the people and the economy. The challenges of hosting this event is becoming daunting but our drive in continuing is that the sector must not be allowed to die.”
Agwu disclosed that in conjunction with his organisation’s foreign partners, ”we have reached out to many of such companies, and happily, the response has been tremendous and we are expecting close a lot of them.”
According to him, ”Over 100 Original Components Manufacturers from China, India, South Korea, South Africa, Singapore, Turkey, Nigeria, etc. including major automobile distributing/manufacturing companies in Nigeria are showcasing at the event. Our intention in bringing them is to enable Nigerians and neighbouring West Africans engaged in automobile, spare parts, accessories, and allied businesses to work out rewarding and lasting business relationships with the main companies engaged in manufacturing these products and services.
”There will be seminars/workshops going on simultaneously with the exhibition. From June 4-7, 2024 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the venue of the event; each of those days that the fair will last is loaded with activities and events that will make this edition remarkably rewarding to the exhibitors, visitors, and other stakeholders.”
