Ahmedabad: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will inaugurate ‘Truck Trailer and Tyre Expo 2017, a first of its kind event to be held in Mahatma Gandhi Mandir in capital city Gandhinagar from September 9 to 11.

The Annual General Meeting of the All India Motor Transport Congress and its managing committee meet would also be held on the same venue on the opening day of the event ie September 9 on the sidelines of the event, which would be a platform to bridge the gap between the manufacturers, other equipment manufacturers, buyers, sellers, service providers and allied sector to explore the market in India and tap into the growing business potential.

India being a major hub for automobile sector, this expo will be the only one of its kind for trucks, trailers, tyres and other equipment manufacturers in the Entire South Asian Countries, and is expected to attract 25000 business visitors from various associations, Federations and Govt. bodies, provide a huge platform for manufacturers, buyers and sellers under one roof from all corners of India and from other countries including Germany, Taiwan, UK.

The expo also aims to bring together all stakeholders in the industry, including government to not only provide exhibitors with high quality trading platform to expand business, but also help to conduct technology exchange, display new products, find co-operative partners and provide more co-operation opportunities for Indian truck industry.

Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, Indo China Promotion Council (ICPC), GCCI and other organizations including Federations and Associations of Truck, Trailers, Tyre and Petroleum Products are supporting through their participation/visiting the expo to explore business.

Addressing a joint press conference here today President of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shailesh Patwari,
VP (West Zone), All India Motor Transport Congress and Chairman,Transport Committee of Industry (GCCI) Mukesh Dave, National President of Freight Forwarders Association Samir Shah, Organiser of the event Ram Soundalkar informed this.

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of state for Transport & Highways, Shipping, Chemicals& Fertilizers, Gujarat Transport Minister of Vallabhbhai Kakadia will also remain present in the inaugural session, the said.
In a country as geographically diverse as India, rail and roadways remain the primary mode of movement for goods. Recently, through various strategic services, roadways have emerged as preferred mode of transportation for goods. With increase in movement of goods via roads, numbers of vehicles have also increased. As per state records, a total of 2,21,79,165 vehicles were registered in Gujarat for the month of April, 2017 over 2,20,36,539 vehicles in March, 2017. they said.

“Over 110 motor vehicle companies from across Gujarat are expected to participate in the evet. More than 200 stakeholders of truck, trailer, tyre and allied sectors from across India are expected to participate,” said Soundalkar.

Dave said, “India is the 4thlargest commercial vehicles market in the world. In past five years, the output of commercial vehicles has grown three times more. Each year, the sale of trucks and trailers go up to 20% while heavy vehicles command over 70% of market share.”

“There is a challenge that value trucks currently form less than 10% of the market share. This, coupled with volatility in freight rates, high cost of fuel and overcapacity slowing investment calls for innovation in technology and change in customer service approach,” Patwari said.

Shah said that in the coming days with the target of the government to increase the exports by 3 folds by 2022, new type of challenges in the logistics industry would emerge. There was a larger need of awareness in this regard including the standardization of commercial vehicles for logistic purposes.