INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS
First TOC Africa a success – all about ports
By Ilana Koegelenberg
The inaugural TOC Africa event took place in Durban from 5 to 6 December 2017 , boasting high-level visitors from across the world and a keynote address by former President Jacob Zuma — all in the name of improving trade flow across Africa and beyond .
The Terminal Operators ’ Conference ( TOC ) has long been considered best in class by container terminal operators and their suppliers across the world . There is a whole series of TOC events across the world , with the most popular being TOC Europe . Other market-focused events include TOC Americas , TOC Asia , and TOC Middle East . And now TOC Africa has been added to the list , too .
The first TOC Africa event took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban and has been hailed as successful by exhibitors , delegates , speakers , and the wider pan-African audience in attendance .
The TOC augurs well for South Africa ’ s economic growth prospects , using KwaZulu- Natal ' s two world-class deep-water ports of Durban and Richards Bay to bolster its oceans ’ economy . The first-rate trade exhibition and networking conference coincided with big-ticket investment undertakings in the country to expand the capacity of its major commercial ports to support the projected increases of cargo volumes .
The conference also showcased to the world the vast array of investment opportunities and capabilities on offer at the top-notch ports , which also have an established history as the gateway into the rest of Africa .
All in all , a great platform for South Africa ( and Durban in particular ) to shine and show off our ports .
And as ports form an important ‘ link ’ in the cold chain , it was also very interesting to see where we are at as a continent and where we were going .
ALL ABOUT THE PORT
The TOC of today has evolved into a complete container supply chain event , delivering both technical content and offering a platform to the stakeholders higher up in the cargo chain .
Therefore , there are now two distinct elements of the event : the exhibition and the high-level Container Supply Chain Conference , which is co-located with each TOC event . This is aimed at C-Suite strategic personnel , including shippers , carriers , and third-party logistics , as well as the global operators and port authorities . According to the organisers , going forward , many of the conversations within the conference will focus on digitalisation and disruption from the viewpoint of the key stakeholders within the container supply chain .
The common denominator in each of these forums is the port . The port is firmly
established as the critical link within the container supply chain . Any bottlenecks or delays that occur at the quayside or port hinterland , dramatically affect the time it takes for cargo to arrive at its destination . Ports therefore need to process cargo in a timely and cost-effective manner , using the latest technology on the market to do so . “ At TOC , we place the port at the centre of the supply chain in line with our 40-year history and heritage ,” explained Paul Holloway , event director .
COMING TO AFRICA An effective and productive port is a crucial asset for any country ; this is more important in Africa than in any other region of the world . Some 90 % of trade within Africa happens by sea due to the underdeveloped regional road network and higher propensity to import because of underutilised factory capacity .
Over the past few decades , the sub- Saharan Africa container market has been challenged by the slow development of quality infrastructure , which has led to extended ship waiting times and in general , the entire system has remained underdeveloped in comparison to other port systems around the world .
With such a high dependence on external trade , productive and efficient ports are critical for Africa ’ s growth and to maintain the ‘ Africa Rising ’ narrative .
A new wave of investment from the World Bank , logistics firms , and overseas governments ( particularly those of China and Japan ) looks set to drive growth over the next decade , to ensure that the region ’ s ports continue their transformation and in turn , galvanise African trade and raise revenues across the region .
And so , the idea of TOC Africa was born , explains organisers .
The inaugural TOC Africa brought together cargo owners , logistics , liner shipping , ports , terminals , inland transport , finance , equipment manufacturers , and other stakeholder groups to discuss the evolution of regional maritime container logistics , transport , and supply chain operations and the equipment and technology that facilitate global trade .
In addition to the international audience that TOC delivers , KwaZulu-Natal also reached out to other counterparts across the continent to ensure that TOC Africa is a truly pan-African event . “ There is no doubt that hosting the inaugural TOC Africa in Durban helped to bring physical expression to the ‘ Africa Rising ’ narrative by enabling Africa ’ s ports and port cities to contribute to Africa ’ s growth and development agenda ,” said Holloway .
Photos by TOC Events Worldwide
Two speakers catching up at the inaugural TOC Africa : Professor Trevor Jones , head of Maritime Law and Maritime Studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal ( left ), chatting to Alejandro López , commercial director : OHL Concessions at the Port of Tenerife .
Panellists for the “ Business , Economic and Trade Outlook for Africa ” session included , from left : Dumisani Ntuli ( acting chief director of Maritime Transport Policy and Legislation , Department of Transport ); Mervin Chetty ( general manager – Africa , Transnet Group ); David Watts ( maritime consultant , South African Association of Freight Forwarders ); and Tim Vancampen ( managing director of International Container Terminal Services Inc ., Democratic Republic of Congo ).
Former President Jacob Zuma taking a walk through the exhibition space and trying out some of the new technology on show .
COLD LINK AFRICA • March | April 2018 www . coldlinkafrica . co . za 29