Top notch speakers lined up for FIATA conference

ALAN PEAT EVERYTHING IS going well for the Fiata annual conference, due to be held for the first time in SA at Sun City on September 19-24, according to conference co-ordinator, Karen-Sue Sacks of the Heneways Group. Fiata is the umbrella body for the world’s clearing and forwarding associations, with the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF) being the local hosts of this conference sponsored by SAA Cargo, the National Ports Authority (NPA) and SA Port Operations (Sapo). “We expect a total of about 800 delegates from 72 countries,” Sacks told FTW. The speakers are still being finalised, but already Peter Faust, head of the trade logistics branch of the United Nations trade body Unctad, has confirmed his attendance. Also on the list are Denis Lefebvre, executive vice-president of Canada Board of Services speaking in the main forum on border issues; Robert A Schubel, CEO of EAN, the Swiss barcoding company, speaking at the information technology (IT) forum; and Robert Donald, director of the legal department at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), at the airfreight institute meeting. Enquiries can be directed to Sacks at at karen-sue@saaff.org.za