New course takes the risk out of exports

WHEN JOHANNESBURG-based Freight Training invited FTW to sample at first hand its Export Risk Management conference earlier this month, the timing couldn’t have been more opportune. Anton Marsh had just joined the staff, armed with a Bachelor of Communications degree from Bond University in Australia and an interest in international trade, but no practical experience. The seminar provided the ideal introduction, says Anton, who filed this report. A lighter moment for the 164 delegates representing 118 companies at the recent Export Risk Management conference in Isando. Anton Marsh “INFORMATION moves cargo,” was Phill Doran’s message to the 164 export delegates at Freight Training’s first four-day Export Risk Management conference in Isando last week. A departure from the one-day import/export courses on which the company has built its reputation, the new conference provides the exporter with the information needed not only to move cargo but also to move cargo with an understanding of the risks involved and how to manage them. Appealing to both newcomers and industry veterans, it explains the export process from beginning to end, concentrating on clearing up common errors in the export process. “As a beginner in the industry the conference has certainly been a great help,” was the comment from Rumpff Krugerhas of Mitsui OSK Line. Mandy Carter of Nedbank Global Trade was equally upbeat. “It provides a comprehensive overview of exports and the risks that need to be managed.” The content ranges from export strategy and Incoterms 2000 to SA export incentive schemes and the SA Value Added Tax Act, each topic dealt with by speakers with the professional expertise to provide practical and relevant input. It’s also a great networking opportunity, providing a meeting place for export colleagues to exchange views and discuss problems they may have encountered. The idea of a four-day course was motivated by practical considerations. “We find that the distances involved often make repeat trips for one-day courses an expensive exercise for companies,” said Freight Training’s Sean Wheeler. “We believe the four-day course provides a comprehensive and cost-efficient, option.”