GlobalAutoIndustry.com Teams With The Moroccan Government to Host ``Morocco: Gateway Advantage'' Seminar

TROY, Mich.--March 1, 2005--GlobalAutoIndustry.com today announced a new seminar for automotive companies seeking to establish a manufacturing, assembly or logistics base in Europe via Morocco.

"Selecting a manufacturing base in Europe or Eastern Europe to be close to your customers can be a difficult decision. As Eastern European countries are being integrated into the European Union, their standard of living and labor costs are likely to increase in time in comparison with a country like Morocco. This makes Morocco a good alternative," states John Sisson, Principal, Location Management Services, a scheduled speaker.

Morocco has signed Free Trade Agreements with the United States and the European Union, and has a stable, low-cost, skilled workforce offering North American companies an excellent alternative to traditional manufacturing and assembly locations in the high-cost EU. Companies investing in a Morocco operation can potentially also be exempt from customs duties; export fiscal exemptions; receive investment subsidies; as well as potential free labor-training.

"As automotive suppliers continue to expand with locations near their customers, labor and logistics costs are key selection criteria for locating operations to serve those customers," states Ron Hesse, president of GlobalAutoIndustry.com, adding "This seminar represents an excellent opportunity to see first-hand why Delphi, Valeo, Lear, Fiat, VW, Sumitomo Electric, Yazaki and Detroit metro-based Polytech Netting have decided to serve the EU market from Morocco."

Executives can select from two half-day sessions, with lunch included for both. The Seminar will be held at the Michigan State University Management Training Center in Troy, Michigan. The cost is $95 per person.

For a complete agenda and to register, please visit the following webpage: http://www.globalautoindustry.com/EventsRegistrationForm.htm#March31

Fluor Global Services, an internationally recognized site selection firm, conducted a benchmark study comparing industrial manufacturing locations in Morocco with other countries in the region, including Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and Tunisia.

The study shows Morocco is the gateway to the European and Mediterranean region with:

-- An ample supply of skilled and highly educated workers

-- Geographic proximity to the growing European and Mediterranean markets

-- Political and economic stability

-- An attractive environment for direct foreign investment

-- A free trade agreement with the EU

The "Morocco: Gateway Advantage" Seminar will cover:

-- Market Trends in Europe and the Mediterranean Region with presentations from CSM Worldwide and the Original Equipment Suppliers Association

-- Overview of Free-trade Agreements Between the U.S., European Union and Morocco

-- Morocco Gateway Advantage with featured speakers including Location Management Services and the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

-- Case Study Presentation Panel of U.S. Companies Trading in the Region

-- Luncheon and Keynote Address Featuring a Leading Corporate Executive Doing Business in the Region (participants from both the morning and afternoon's session invited)

The afternoon session is a repeat of the morning session.

About GlobalAutoIndustry.com

GlobalAutoIndustry.com connects the worldwide auto supplier industry with the resources to effectively do business globally. Through the web site, www.GlobalAutoIndustry.com, auto supplier executives can find insight, solutions and strategies focused on doing business in the world's top automotive markets.

Monthly eJournals (EUROtalk, ASIAtalk, AMERItalk, CHINAtalk, LATINtalk and GLOBALtalk HR) provide targeted information and insight on doing business in foreign markets and GlobalAutoIndustry.com Solutions provide effective international answers to suppliers' global business and operational needs.

Parent company, HCI Group Ltd., is based in Troy, Mich., with European headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.