The future of the African transport sector was brought to the spotlight in an epic conference that took place between 28 – 29 September 2022 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban.
World leaders gathered at the ICC complex to attend the Transport Evolution Africa Forum and Expo 2022. This came at a time when the number of accidents on our roads is increasing at an alarming rate so much so that transport minister Fikile Mbalula has set his eyes on using the rail network to move cargo once again. This is aimed at relieving pressure on the road by reducing the number of trucks.
This event is the only event that brings together ports, rail, and road stakeholders within the entire continent of Africa. The event hosted many CEOs of ports and rail authorities across Africa who were coming in to discuss how we move moved forward with the Africa free trade agreement within the transport sector. This is the basis of getting global trade up and running for Africa and finding the investment gap for development and most importantly resolving some of the cross-border issues.
In terms of the transport minister saying that we might have to move to rail transport, ENCA reporter spoke to Road Freight Association CEO Gavin Kelly about how he thinks this transition would affect the trucking industry. “One needs to understand that the logistic trail is a grouping of different modes of transport. So, ships, ports, air, rail, and road – with trucks have a definite role to play but they can’t do everything. That is what we are expecting the Road Freight industry to come in, picking up where rail is not doing what it needs to do. There are cargos that are suitable for rail like coal, which need to be transported by rail otherwise, we are going to in the first instance, destroy our roads”
The Transport Evolution Africa Forum & Expo Workshop 6 session was presented by the MD of EThekwini Maritime Cluster Ms. Zenzile Gwamanda. She presented a lecture on “The value of constructing partnership through maritime industry clusters within the South African context.
Driven by technology and innovation, the African transport and logistics industry is pitching itself as the key to uniting nations and bolstering their economies. The World Bank estimates that only 12% of economic activity in the region comes from trade between African nations, compared to 60% in Europe and 40% in Asia. This offers a previously unheard-of opportunity for investments in logistics and transportation across the continent.
Women’s inclusion was part of the agenda with our Captain Londy “Blaqmermaid” Ngcobo driving the conversation around the inclusion of women within the transport sector.