SA wins bid to host FIATA RAME Conference

12 Jun 2012

The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) has won the bid to host the FIATA Region Africa & Middle East (RAME) Conference to be held from 24-26 June 2012 at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

This global trade event will host senior freight forwarders, business delegates, government officials, ambassadors and trade representatives from the Africa and Middle East regions.

FIATA, as the international Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations from across the globe, is a non-governmental organisation, representing an industry covering approximately 40 000 forwarding and logistics firms which employ around 8-10 million people in 150 countries.

FIATA has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (inter alia ECE, ESCAP, ESCWA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the UN Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

It is recognised as representing the freight forwarding industry by many other governmental organisations, governmental authorities, private international organisations in the field of transport such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Union of Railways (UIC), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the World Customs Organisation (WCO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and so on. FIATA is the largest non-governmental organisation in the field of transportation and its influence is worldwide.

"As SAAFF we are delighted to have won the bid to host the RAME Conference this year, an opportunity that won't be back on our shores for a number of years. The newly appointed president of FIATA, Mr Stanley Lim, as well as other senior FIATA dignitaries and member country representatives will be attending and directing a programme wholly focused on freight forwarding and trade issues in the Africa and Middle East regions," explains David Logan, CEO of SAAFF.

"This is an incredible opportunity for any organisation with an interest in freight forwarding, whether it be as a forwarder, insurer, service provider, legal counsel, product provider or trade official to network and make invaluable business connections.

The RAME Conference is an essential event for South African business, at a time when our Government is pushing hard for trade into Africa and beyond.