Reunion expo will explore SA's role in Indian Ocean trade

THE EMERGING power of South Africa and major port restructuring throughout Africa will be among the leading topics at the second International Maritime Exchange Forum (CIMER 98) to be held on Reunion island from October 14-16.
It is now almost certain that Europe, as the main trading partner of the Indian Ocean countries, will be replaced by post-apartheid South Africa, which has clearly become the region's new emerging power, say the organisers.
How the relationship between South Africa and the rest of the continent will evolve will be discussed by a number of speakers during the three days.
Several regional organisations have developed in recent years, such as the South African Development Community (SADC), and Common Market of Eastern and South Africa (COMESA). Their status as major players in the Indian Ocean Rim in the light of South Africa's new-found status will come under the spotlight, with questions to be addressed on what consequences this will have on maritime service networks and the future of Europe's role in this part of the world.
Among the issues to be covered at the conference will be the role of the Spatial Development Initiative (SDI) programme in South Africa.
Port restructuring will deal with the entire range of port structures which exist involving national port authorities and private terminal operating companies.
The organisers of the conference point out that the entire African continent has embarked on a deep port restructuring process, and state that it is time to compare the experiences of each and share the knowledge acquired.
As an example, P&O Ports is involved in the management of the Port of Maputo container terminal, is also a partner of Grindrod in South Africa, and has several other projects in the continent.
In addition to the conferences, CIMER 98 has arranged exhibitions in seven main sectors. These are transport, with shipping, land transport, freight forwarders and NVOCC companies involved; equipment manufacturers; port authorities; terminal operating companies; shippers and shipper's associations; institutions such as local authorities and government agencies; and a press sector for specialised, economic and general publications.
Further information is available from Jean-Pascal Schaefer in Reunion, tel +262 42 90 42 or fax +262 42 47 92.