The Fuel Retailers’ Association (FRA) will hold its first-ever national conference at Automechanika 2015, which runs from 6 to 9 May at Expo Centre, Nasrec.

According to Reggie Sibiya, CEO of the FRA, the Automechanika Trade Show provides a unique opportunity for fuel retailers to interact with more than 600 local and international businesses from over 20 countries and with over 12 000 trade visitors.

The FRA is an independent and fully autonomous organisation that is party to the Motor Industry Bargaining Council (MIBCO). It is constituted to promote the interests of its members, in particular, and of all fuel retailers in South Africa on any issue that affects any aspect of the fuel retailers’ business. The Association has in excess of 2 200 members, representing 50% of the industry.

The FRA Conference will take place on the first two days of the show and will include keynote sessions, panel discussions, question and answer sessions and networking breaks. The theme will be Equipping for Change and subjects such as entrepreneurship, franchising, leadership and small business development will be covered.

Keynote speakers will include renowned scenario planner Clem Sunter, business guru and opinion leader Brand Pretorius and Christian des Closieres, MD and CEO of Total South Africa. There will also be interaction with industry stakeholders such as the Department of Energy, oil companies, banks and trade unions and suppliers and service providers.

Members and non-members of the FRA are welcome to attend and delegates can register online at www.fuelretailers.co.za/conference. The website also contains all relevant information on the conference.