At WAAS, stakeholders chart path to viable automotive market
WITH over 70 exhibitors from five different continents the second edition of the West Africa Automotive Show ( WAAS) has opened more opportunities for foreign firms that are desirous of tapping into the robust and viable business environment that Nigeria provides.
WAAS, which had its maiden edition in 2019, is making a return after the COVID- 19 pandemic disrupted business activities in 2020, with exhibitors from over 20 countries including, India, UK, Ireland, Thailand, Indonesia, UAE, Poland, USA as well as Nigeria.
The show organisers, Btob Events, said they are interested in promoting the Nigerian and regional automotive trade and are endorsed by the National Automotive Design and Development Council ( NADDC).
Managing Director, Jamie Hill, said “our launch edition was back in 2019 and the focus of this exhibition is to bring new technologies from the automotive sector from around Nigeria and across the world together with local partners, assembly plants and anybody within the industry here to improve the safety and efficiency of the vehicles on Nigerian roads and with that obviously improves safety for the nation.
“We are very proud to welcome over 70 exhibitors from over five different continents, you will see we have exhibitors here from Asia, Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East and they are all here because they have a vested interest in the Nigerian market, they see a huge opportunity for business, a huge opportunity for growth and they have invested a lot time and money to come here and set their business up here in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking on whether the past edition achieved its objectives, he said: “Yes. This edition will remain be a difficult one because we are dealing with different problems. As you all know the world had COVID- 19 pandemic to contend with and a lot of the automotive parts for the industry here are China based.
“The fact that China is still locked down means it’s a big opportunity for other brands from other parts of the world to come and take some of the market share here in Nigeria. Our main focus here is to promote Nigerian businesses, manufacturing and Nigeria automotive vehicles and parts. We hope that we can further enhance the Nigerian Vehicle automotive production sector,” he said.
Some of the exhibitors who spoke at the exhibition ground disclosed that people outside Nigeria are so fascinated with both the human and natural resources that God has bestowed on the largest economy in the black nations.
The exhibitors agreed that doing business and having a business presence in Nigeria would further expand the portfolio of their businesses.
Business Developer of Poland- based, Zamel, which specialises in autogas, Mateusz Koprianiuk, said his company provides complete solutions for auto gas installers and distributors.
According to him, Zamel has the technical know- how to deliver a complete kit for autogas and also make spare parts available.
Koprianiuk noted that Nigeria has a rich deposit of natural gas, which makes the market very lucrative for foreign investors. He said that his company is open to Nigerians who are ready to take up distributorship of its services and products.
Regional Manager, International of Hunter Engineering Company, a 75- year- old USA- based global leader in automotive service equipment, Ranjeet Kumar Mahato, said that the Nigerian economy is attractive to outsiders because of the population and the potential therein.
He said that the company, which is currently present in over 105 nations, offers state- of- the- art wheel alignment systems, wheel balancers, changers, inspection lane equipment, and lift racks with excellent after- sales support.
He added that the company would love to see many Nigerians becoming its distributors, which will aid the influx of the products in the country.