THAI AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY KEEN TO DO BUSINESS WITH SOUTH AFRICA

THAI AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY KEEN TO DO BUSINESS WITH SOUTH AFRICA

 BY BRIAN KAJENGO

The Thailand Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA) has shown interest in partnering and forming joint ventures with their South African counterparts in order to grow the sector in both countries.

 This expressed by the President of TAPMA, Ms Achana Limpaitoon during the visit of the South African business delegation to the Thai automotive body parts manufacturers, Somboon Advanced Groups Plant and Summit Auto Body Plant outside Bangkok, Thailand yesterday.

The site visit was organised by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in conjunction with TAPMA as part of the Outward Selling and Investment Mission (OSIM) led by the department. 

Limpaitoon committed to future collaborating with South African automotive exporters. She said the Thailand Automotive Industry had gone through years of a challenging struggle but had managed to achieve noticeable successes.

“The industry is now going for higher regional and global competition, and I do hope for more collaboration in future for Thailand and South Africa,” added Limpaitoon.

Limpaitoon said she believed this visit would lead to exchange of ideas, transfer of skills and technology that would benefit Thailand and South Africa.

The Managing Director of a Durban based company Microfinish, Mr Deshan Naidoo, who took part in the site visit, said there were plenty of opportunities for partnerships and joint ventures both in Thailand and South Africa. 

“The technology currently used in the Asian market is at an advantage and has improved over the years. This is what we want to take advantage of and learn from our counterparts,” said Naidoo, whose company manufactures automotive valve guides and valve seat inserts.

Naidoo added that the partnership will allow them to improve their international competitiveness and give them an opportunity to market their products in other markets.

During his budget speech earlier this month, the Minister of Trade and Industry Dr Rob Davies said the automotive sector formed part of the key sector identified job drivers in the country and that the Department has allocated R7, 9bn for capital expenditure through the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP). 

Caption: South African business delegation visiting the Summit Auto Body Industry in Bangkok, Thailand.