NEPAD Transport Summit opens up many opportunities in Africa

Opportunities for business, trade and investment  will feature when the vital elements of Africa's cross-border transport -- infrastructure, logistics, supply chains. telecommunications, finance and border formalities --  come under the spotlight at the inaugural NEPAD Transport Summit 2009 and Africa Expo at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand on 25-26 November.

The objective of the summit, according to NEPAD CEO Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, is to develop and fast-track Africa's cross-border transport  potential "to stimulate economic growth and interdependence".

"Africa is on the move and we can speed up the momentum If we can get African countries to open up and share their trade links with
their neighbours," he said.

The summit is attracting decision-makers from African governments, the African Union and regional economic communities who will be
joined by senior executives from major transport and logistic companies,engineering and construction groups, development banks and
funding agencies.

The European Union, France, the Netherlands, Angola, Canada and USAID are sending official observers.

The summit is being structured so that each day starts with a plenary on the broad situation. The afternoons will be devoted to hammering
out the details at sector-specific parallel sessions.

The main focus of the discussions will be on Africa's key cross- border arteries -- road, rail and air -- and its  ports and their importance in regional integration.

One of the features of the summit which is attracting much attention is the green agenda, covering new technologies to reduce the transport carbon footprint, biofuels and alternative sources of energy, and the greening of logistics and supply chains.

The 53-nation African Union has identified the regional integration of national economies through NEPAD --the New Partnership for Africa's Development -- as the answer to the continent's chronic problems of hunger, poverty and slow growth, with the key being swift, efficient and economic cross-border transport.

Dr Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union Commission -- the top man in the AU hierarchy -- will be a VIP guest at the summit.

In addition to the discussions and debate the summit will showcase the African countries involved in the transport networks, who will display their products, services and potential in national pavilions in the Africa Expo's Hall of Nations.