Philippines firms in automotive sector attract interest in Germany trade fair

MANILA, Philippines — Over 100 buyers and investors have expressed interest to work with Philippine companies engaged in the automotive sector during the recent Automechanika trade fair for the automotive service industry held in Germany.

In a statement, the Department of Trade and Industry’s export promotion arm Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) said the buyers and investors interested to work with Philippine firms are looking for manufacturers of car seat, automotive electronics, and suppliers of water pumps and batteries.

It said some of the firms are also looking for investment opportunities in the development of a distribution center or manufacturing facility in the Philippines to cater to the Southeast Asian market.

During the event, the country endorsed some Philippine-based companies like Integrated Micro-Electronics  Inc., URATEX-Bus Seats, Roberts Automotive and Industrial Parts Manufacturing Corp., Tri-R Allied Industries Inc., JTEKT Philippines Corp., Tsukiden, BF Metal and P & R Parts & Machineries Inc.

CITEM executive director Pauline Suaco-Juan said the country’s participation at Automechanika helped present its strategic advantages and industry capabilities as a potential automotive manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia.

“Participation in trade fairs like Automechanika is a much-needed boost to globalize our local industry manufacturers and help streamline the transformation of the Philippine industrial sector by capitalizing on our market edge,” she said.

She added the country’s strength in the automotive industry lies in the production of electronic components.

Organized by the Messe Frankfurt Group, Automechanika which was held from Sept. 11 to 15 in Frankfurt, is the world’s leading trade fair for the automotive aftermarket industry.

This year’s edition of Automechanika had close to 5,000 exhibitors and over 130,000 visitors from all over the world.

Given the country’s strength in manufacturing electronic parts and wire harnesses, Juan said the next step is to capitalize on such by participating in another international major trade fair called Electronica.

Electronica, the leading international trade fair for electronic components, systems, applications and other innovative solutions such as smart homes and electronic cars, is set on November 13 to 16, in Munich, Germany.

Apart from companies that are producing or servicing semiconductors and other electronic components, CITEM also welcomes manufacturers of electronic data processing equipment, office equipment, telecommunications, consumer electronics, communications and radar, control and instrumentation, medical and industrial, automotive electronics, and solar/photovoltaics, who are interested to join Electronica. a