ACMA’s buyer-seller meet in Ahmedabad is a big draw

ACMA’s two-day Buyers-Sellers meet in Ahmedabad, which opened today, saw over 55 exhibitors display their latest products and technologies aimed at driving new business opportunities. Several heads of purchasing from OEMs, Tier-1/2/3 suppliers and IPOs from all over the country visited the exhibition and interacted with the exhibitors.

Over the years, Gujarat has emerged as a global automotive hub for vehicle and auto component manufacturers. Leading OEMs such as Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki India, Ford India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Atul Auto, Hino Motors and Mahindra Gujrat Tractor have set up manufacturing plants in the state while others are in the process.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest Guenter Butschek, CEO and managing director of Tata Motors, said, “The need of the hour is to deepen engagement with auto component suppliers and improve the efficiency across the automotive value chain. The prerequisite of this journey is to create more accountability among the suppliers. We welcome the approach of the component players who wish to move up the value chain, from the build to print to art to part, bringing solutions and in turn creating IP.”   

Arvind Balaji, president of ACMA, said, “We are at an inflection point and the industry is expected to grow from the existing US$ 38.5 billion to US$ 200 billion by 2026. This would require an incremental investment of US$ 30 billion. This also calls for strengthening our capabilities for new product development, improving quality standards, evolving our technology for meeting the evolving needs of the industry on environment and safety.”

Urgent need to upgrade Tier 2 and 3 suppliers

“We at ACMA believe that this meet not only highlights Gujarat as the investment destination, but also promotes Gujarat as a platform for business networking with entire India. We are confident that engagements like these will scale up business goals of the auto component industry,” added Balaji

Speaking on the positive response at the Buyers-Sellers meet, Rattan Kapur, vice-president, ACMA and chairman, Supply Chain Committee, said, “We at ACMA strongly believe that this platform is a great opportunity for participants to showcase not only their strengths and capabilities to OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers through product display but also a unique opportunity to interact directly with the those responsible for sourcing. Auto component Tier 2- and 3 companies are still one of the weakest links in the entire supply chain. To make the entire value chain work seamlessly, there is an urgent need for upgrading the T2 and T3 suppliers.”

Also read: Tata Motors' new GDC to play critical role in future growth plans