Victorian firms tap ME auto industry

Years of building relationships in the Middle East is paying dividends for Victorian automotive companies who have pinpointed the region as one of the world’s key markets for export opportunities. The Victorian Government, in cooperation with the Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association, had supported Australia’s largest ever export mission to the recently-concluded Automechanika Middle East Trade Show in Dubai. The participation of companies from Victoria has increased by 30 per cent from last year’s delegation, further underlining the emphasis the State is putting on the Middle East automotive aftermarket industry. John Butler, State Government of Victoria Commissioner to the Middle East and North Africa, said last year’s trade show saw over 70 per cent of participating companies attract new business, with even more expected this year. “This is one of the most important automotive markets in the world,” he said. “We will continue to focus our efforts on developing key relationships and creating trade opportunities for Victorian companies here, just as we have done for many years now. We are confident in what we can bring to the market, and our world-class expertise, knowledge, innovation and quality products is growing in demand following a long-standing commitment to the region.” This is the sixth year the State Government of Victoria has supported a trade delegation to Automechanika Middle East, and the twelfth year Australia has been participating in one form or another in the emirate’s annual automotive event. Craig Mahoney, international sales and marketing manager of Mainline DynoLog Dyamometers, which provide vehicle performance measurement technology, has been visiting Dubai for the past three years around the trade show. “There is a high respect for Australian made products in this region,” he said. “We have been here for three years now and we want to keep returning and flying the flag to create strong and long-standing relationships. We come here and we get to know our customers well and also their customers, which we think is very important. It’s led to 90 per cent of our business being  based on recommendations.”