International experts from Singapore, the Netherlands, the United States and Nigeria as well as local transport professionals will be providing insight into how to improve transport in Southern Africa at the 31st Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) taking place from 9th to 12th July 2012 in Pretoria at CSIR International Convention Centre.
The annual conference is headlined “Getting Southern Africa to Work” and will ask how transport can contribute towards the economic and social growth of this region by tackling critical transport issues through a series of action-based networking events, plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops.
South Africa’s Minister of Transport, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, is expected to deliver the opening address on Monday, 9 July while the plenary address will be given by the President of the Forum of European Highway Research Laboratories (FEHR), Al Joris. Al will look at innovation transportation, the challenges thereof and necessity. Other plenary sessions will include an address by Mohinder Singh, Dean of the LTA Academy, Land Transport Authority from Singapore who will look at planning for sustainable urban mobility and Kristine Williams from the University of Florida will tackle access management during her plenary session on Wednesday.
“It is widely acknowledged that transport is directly linked to the economic growth of a country, “says Professor Wynand Steyn, spokesperson for the SATC, “When transport systems are effective they provide economic and social opportunities that result in better access to market, employment and additional investment. This year’s conference promises to tackle these issues head-on as over 700 transport experts will gather over the three days to take part in the action packed agenda.”
Delegates for the Southern African Transport Conference can register at www.satc.org.za and registration before 10 June qualifies for the ‘early bird special’. The conference also includes an exhibition, and any interested exhibitors can find out more about exhibition opportunities at www.satc.org.za.