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Shopping centre to host international trade show

16 Jul 2009

In one of the first partnerships of its kind, Port Elizabeth shopping centre, Moffett on Main, will be hosting the second bi-ennial South African Automotive Week (SAAW) international trade show and convention, from 7 - 10 October 2009. The national event is one of the biggest of its kind in the country, and has outgrown existing conference and convention facilities in Port Elizabeth, according to show director Andrew Binning of Inkanyezi Events.

One level of the centre's underground car park is being turned into a 5000 square metre exhibition centre, and there is still space for a 300 seat conference venue.

Restaurants in the centre will benefit as they will be used by delegates for break-away meetings and light meals.

In 2007, SAAW attracted over 100 international and 3000 national automotive delegates, and was hosted in the country's largest ever temporary exhibition centre.

This year's SAAW is expected to be bigger, and will include a conference focusing on securing the future of the South African automotive industry.

However, high winds had forced the early closure of the event, and the organisers did not want to take the risk of it happening again.

Binning believes that the delegates will find the parking garage an unusual and interesting exhibition venue.

"South African Automotive Week is a trade only event and we trust that industry will appreciate a hardnosed focus on business and be less concerned about the trimmings usually associated with consumer-driven automotive trade events."

It would, nevertheless, be an “upmarket trade venue” with a dedicated restaurant, media centre and Wi-Fi hotspots.

“The facility will accommodate the Automotive Industry Conference, Trade Show, Business Match-making meetings, the NAACAM AGM and numerous automotive related announcements over the week of October 7 - 10,” says Binning.

For more information, see: www.saaw.co.za