The countries forming the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have already become Asia's third largest ‘economic powerhouse’ after China and India and represent the world’s tenth-largest automotive market. The growth region is the partner of the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) 2014 and Southeast Asia will form the focus of the International Automotive Congress - ASEAN which takes place on 13th October, one day before the start of the IZB, and will therefore kick off the leading trade fair for the automotive supplier industry. Top-quality speakers from the worlds of business and technology and from different organisations and associations will provide practical insights into the emerging Southeast Asian automotive market. If you are interested in the congress, you can access further information and register for the event online at www.izb-kongress.com/en/congress.html.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), founded in 1967, currently has ten member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The countries of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Myanmar in particular have become an important market with increasing incomes and a growing propensity to consume. According to expert estimates, the level of demand in the automotive market is likely to grow considerably over the next few years. "This region is therefore also an extremely interesting location for automotive manufacturers and globally operating supplier companies. In the run-up to the IZB, our Congress will focus on corporate engagement in Southeast Asia and the opportunities and challenges that it presents," explains Julius von Ingelheim, the Spokesman of the Board of Wolfsburg AG. The company has been hosting the International Suppliers Fair since 2001 and this year the IZB will open its doors for the eighth time in the German city of Wolfsburg from 14th to 16th October.
Representatives from Volkswagen and Volkswagen Group Malaysia and from Malaysian companies such as DRB-Hicom and WSA-Group, among others, will gather at the International Automotive Congress - ASEAN to report on the development of the market, the potential for business partnerships in Southeast Asia and other topics. Strategies for the positioning of a company on the respective market will be explained by speakers from Continental Automotive (Thailand) Co. and Bosch Automotive (Thailand) Co., followed by representatives from the Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH and the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce who will introduce financial planning and schemes to support business activities.
The Congress is accompanied by a trade exhibition offering a platform for exchange and networking activities.