I refer to the article “Is the freight industry suffering from conference overload?” (FTW September 9, 2005). First of all, I don’t believe that your article should be addressed to just the freight industry. There certainly are many conferences on the go at one time and it is the decision of the organisers as to whether their conference will attract (and keep!) a sustainable number of delegates. The experience of Logistics Africa, with only 18 people present to hear a speaker, is a poor reflection. It is up to our industry to network the conference situation and ensure that there is as little duplication and saturation as possible. And this is what FESARTA will do, as it prepares for the Transport and Trade Indaba to be held at Sun City on February 21-15, 2006. This Indaba is a regional event and will therefore cater for trade and all modes of transport, from a regional and international perspective. It will be organised by three partners; FESARTA (Federation of East and Southern African Road Transport Associations), Africa Trade and the CBRTA (Cross-Border Road Transport Agency). The intention is to have the support of and input from NEPAD, SADC, COMESA, World Bank, USAID, DoT etc. It will complement the RFA’s Convention, which is a South African event. We will liaise with Logistics Africa, Limpopo and others, to try and map the way forward for 2006. Barney Curtis, RFA.
