June 6 - Following the success of the Breakbulk Europe event recently, the organisers are set to move to Africa with the Breakbulk Africa Congress which will take place from August 7-8, 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa.

The organisers say that large infrastructure projects, a wealth of natural resources, a rising wave of foreign investment, and South Africa's inclusion as one of the BRICS are adding to Africa's emergence as one of the world's hottest breakbulk / heavy lift markets.

They note that Africa's historic trade and transportation challenges remain as barriers to entry for many logistics providers.

At the Congress speakers will identify new capital projects, examine port and rail productivity, discuss coastal shipping, and review best practices for combating fraud; discussing topics which will include: Capital Projects in East Africa; Africa's Coastal Shipping; West Africa Port Productivity; Easing Border Bottlenecks; Pirates East, Pirates West; and, Staying Compliant in Africa.

Brian Molefe (pictured below), CEO of Transnet, South Africa's largest rail, port and pipeline conglomerate, will deliver the keynote address at the Congress.

Transnet SOC is South Africa's national transport arm and the governing body for the country's rail, pipelines, ports and terminals.

During his keynote address, Molefe will discuss Transnet's recently announced, four-point growth strategy, which includes plans to invest R110.6 billion (USD12.9 billion) in new rail equipment, the widening and deepening of ports and building a new pipeline to solve South Africa's infrastructure challenges.

If Antwerp is anything to go by, the event should offer a great opportunity to network with breakbulk and project cargo shippers, forwarders and service providers with a potential or vested interest in Africa.

http://breakbulkevents.com/index.php?section=breakbulk_africa2012

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