TransAfrica transport conference will benefit African countries

Mawethu Vilana, Acting Director General, Department of Transport and Craig Newman, CEO of Expo Centre.

The TransAfrica conference will be held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, Nasrec, from 7-9 October.

Speaking at the launch of TransAfrica, the acting director-general of the Department of Transport, Mawethu Vilana, said the conference is set to have mutual benefits for all African countries who are currently cultivating better transport systems.

"TransAfrica 2014 will be significant as it starts a host of activities in response to our annual Transport Month campaign, which was launched in October 2006," said Vilana. "The knowledge imparted at the conference could serve as a basis for the formulation of transport strategies and polices for the future of Africa's transportation," said Vilana.

Expertise in demand

"In this respect South Africa's transport experience in particular is of value to many countries on the African continent. Our transport system, technology and expertise are, in fact, extensively in demand in African states and elsewhere."

A number of important speakers will participate in TransAfrica and the three-day conference is seen as the ideal platform for major development announcements to be made. TransAfrica 2014 is endorsed and supported by the Transport Minister, Elizabeth Dipuo-Peters. In her endorsement she says: "Transport is the heartbeat of South Africa's economic growth and social development."

According to Dipuo-Peters the Transport Department also has a vital role to play in the government's integration with the Southern African Region and the African continent as a whole, as well as being the conduit for exporting products to the rest of the world.

Vilana explained how the government has undertaken bold measures in response to the transport challenges facing South Africa and the department has remained convinced about its future plans and the long-term sustainability of the transport programmes.

Bright future

"Our transport policies have been ground-breaking, precedent-setting and successful in launching a new paradigm that is tailor-made for our economic growth. Evidence suggests that we are on the right track," said Vilana.

"There are many reasons for concluding that South Africa's transport picture remains bright over the long run. I am certain that with the far-sighted vision of organising such a conference - the African continent will once again be assured that there are many benefits that lie ahead that will be brought about by our transport vision as South Africa.

"It also goes without saying that the success of such a conference will depend to a large extent on the quality of the contributions to be made. A platform presented by this conference is the best way of opening our doors to all African countries to share their experiences for the prosperity of our continent," said Vilana.