Beijing, China — April 9, 2017 — The Automotive Industries Association (AIA) of Canada has announced it has signed a cooperation agreement with the China Automotive Maintenance and Repair Trades Association (CAMRA). The official event was held in Beijing at the AMR2017: Auto Maintenance and Repair Expo.
“Cooperation and collaboration is needed to grow and prosper in this global economy,” AIA Canada President Jean-François Champagne noted at the signing ceremony. “This strategic cooperation agreement recognizes the need to work closely together for the benefit of the automotive aftermarket, and I’m looking forward to working together with President Fengling Wang of CAMRA.”
AIA Canada administers I-CAR Canada, the Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) and the Canadian Collision Industry Accreditation Program (CCIAP).
Champagne led a delegation of Canadian representatives that included Jason Best, AIA Board Member and Senior Vice President of Spectra Premium; Martin Brazeau, Vice-President of Asian Aftermarket Operations of Spectra Premium; Mubasher Faruki, Associate Dean, Motive Power Programs at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT); Mark Deroche, Chief Instructor, Motive Power Programs at BCIT; Desmond Chan, Global Strategic Development, Asia for Fix Auto, and Bob Kirstiuk, President, Advantage Parts Solutions.
“A special thank you goes to Fix Auto, a Canadian company with operations in China, who has been a tremendous supporter and an active member of AIA Canada and who facilitated the signing of this agreement,” said Champagne. “Thank you to Fix Auto President and CEO Steve Leal, Fix Auto China President Frank Liu and Fix Auto World Global Strategic Developer Desmond Chan for their ongoing partnership and for advocating for the global collision repair industry.”
According to a statement from AIA Canada, the agreement will strengthen the relationships between these two associations, based on mutual cooperation, support, and common interest, and foster resource sharing and exchange through regular communications between aftermarket companies, colleges, and universities.
CAMRA is the only national automotive maintenance and repair trade association legally established by enterprises, institutions, groups and individuals going in for automotive maintenance and repair, and detecting test of automotive and related industries within the territory of China.
A statement from AIA Canada says this cooperation agreement offers a unique opportunity to strengthen the image of Canadian companies and partnerships between international industries, while actively promoting training and communications between aftermarket professionals and educational institutions.
