The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport: South Africa (CILTSA) is proud to announce it has won the bid to host the CILT Africa Forum 2017, which takes place at Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg from 28 to 31 March 2017. 250 high-level delegates from more than 15 African countries are expected to attend, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Nigeria as well as last year’s host, Mauritius. Newcomers include Cameroon, which is the in process of setting up a branch.
Commenting on this announcement, CILTSA President Elvin Harris (Executive Manager: Strategic Knowledge at Transnet Freight Rail) said: “CILTSA is excited to host the Africa Forum 2017! With CILT’s strong footprint in Africa, the event is a unique opportunity for individuals and businesses to expand into other markets and for the South African industry to tap into the African network at one time and in one place. The Forum also provides a unique platform to learn from logistics and transport professionals from across the continent”.
Chaos and Disruption: The New Norm
“The Forum theme is ‘Chaos and Disruption: the New Norm’: something I am sure all transport and logistics professionals can relate to”, continued Harris. “The international trade environment can be characterised as disruptive and chaotic. Developments in e-Commerce, 3D printing, drone transport, automation of Customs procedures, to name a few, are all factors which are changing the way trade is conducted irretrievably, radically and forever.”
As African logistics and transport professionals, our future depends on our ability to understand and embrace the huge opportunities which this disruption and chaos creates.
“The Africa Forum was established in 2004 and has since held 12 successful meetings in a number of countries in the Region,” explained Major General Umaru Tudunwada Usman, CILT’s International Vice President Africa and Chairman of the Africa Forum.The main objectives of the Forum are to grow and strengthen membership and education in Africa and develop the Region. They also include the establishment of professional standards and excellence and to provide opportunities for networking to market and promote the Institute within host countries.”
Topics that will be addressed include:
- The Future of the Logistics and Transport Industry
- Africa’s Transport Corridors
- Transnet’s Perspective on Disruptive Changes on the Horizon and Repositioning Itself to Meet these Challenges
- Entrepreneurship, Leadership and Infrastructure in Africa: The Formula for Success
- Trends in Warehousing Automation
The four-day programme includes sessions for two of CILT’s key interest groups, Young Professionals (YP) as well as Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT). A site visit will be conducted on Day Four.
For more information visit www.ciltsa.org.za or email cvlarkin@ciltsa.org.za or call Catherine, Natalie or Isaac on 011 789-7327/787-9127.
