Exhibition floor space at the Sandton Convention Centre has increased by 10% for this year’s event, and exhibitor numbers are up 8%. These exhibitors are reported to be coming from 20 different countries, with 37 Chinese companies and 13 from India signed up. Home market companies will dominate the show, however, with firms from South Africa representing 38% of all exhibitors.
The influence of Chinese and Indian tyre manufacturers on the South African market for OTR tyres is tipped to balloon this year, and these companies will have a highly visible presence at Tyrexpo Africa 2008. Show organiser, ECI International, believes that China and India’s strong participation in the exhibition signals an aggressive drive to achieve greater market share in the lucrative African mining sector.
Tyrexpo Africa 2006 was seen as a highly successful inaugural show, and the challenge for 2008 has been to cultivate and grow this success to a point where Tyrexpo Africa becomes recognised throughout the industry as the tyre industry’s leading Pan-African event. In preparation for the 2008 show ECI International launched a promotional drive, marketing the exhibition to tyre industry professionals in Africa and around the world. More than 80,000 free-entry visitor tickets were distributed to potential delegates through an extensive campaign, featuring direct mail, trade press advertising, ticket inserts and exhibitor mailings. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)
