The African transport and logistics sector has raised USD200 million (R3.2 billion) in the last year and in South Africa, the sector’s contribution is expected to grow by 1.8% per annum according to the World Bank.
The Transport Evolution Africa Forum and Expo, which takes place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban will focus on this sector’s enormous economic contribution and its transport expansion plans across ports, rail and road networks, to enable efficient trade corridors across the continent. Hundreds of local and international delegates, including industry leaders and government officials, are expected to attend the event which runs from September 27-28.
According to the World Bank, trade between African countries represents only 12% of economic activity in the region compared with 60% in Europe and 40% in Asia. This presents unprecedented potential for investment in transport and logistics across the continent.
The conference and expo event will include collaborative and solutions-based sessions that will plot the roadmap for the future of the sector in Africa.
“We have seven events under one roof, with over 50 port, rail and road authorities, 3 500 transport professionals and 100 exhibitors, tackling transport and logistics issues head-on and showcasing global innovations, as well as providing the platform for African transport corridor updates. And this coming year, we are excited to launch the African Transport Performance Scorecard, which will be a comprehensive annual progress measurement report,” said Le-Ann Hare, Portfolio Director for Transport Evolution at dmg events, organisers of the Forum and Expo.
Other highlights for 2022 include the launch of Trade and Logistics Evolution Africa (a two-day track), the Women in Transport Awards and the Transport Evolution Learning Academy.
A key addition to the Transport Africa Forum and Expo is a gathering of CEOs across the transport and logistics sector within the Transport CEO Forum, where closer working relationships will be forged between all entities with a view to building robust transport corridors into Africa.
“A co-located event with the Transport Africa Forum and Expo is The Big 5 Construct KZN which will facilitate dialogue around infrastructure at the core of re-stimulating the South African economy. The South African National Roads Agency has alone committed R19 billion to developing 13 roads, creating nearly
10 000 jobs during construction,” Hare said.
The South African government has committed R791.2 billion toward infrastructure development in the medium term and has gazetted 15 projects worth R47 billion in the transport sector alone.
As momentum builds in transport and logistics across Africa post-Covid-19, the GDP contribution of the sector is expected to grow from R349 billion in the first quarter of 2022 to R363 billion by 2024, an increase of 3.7%, underlining the investment potential over the next two years.
Funding directed at African transport and logistics companies has surpassed the USD200 million (R3.2billion) in the last year. Transport Africa Forum and Expo has positioned itself to increase potential funding and investment significantly in the medium term.
To register for the Transport Evolution Africa Forum and Expo, visit www.transportevolution.com
