Uganda is set to host this year’s Regional Africa and Middle East (RAME23), an international conference that brings together freight logistics stakeholders from Africa and the Middle East.
The highly billed conference is taking place next month from August 1st – 3rd, 2023 at the Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort.
RAME is one of four regional conferences held annually by the 40000 member-strong International Federation of Freight Forwarders Association (FIATA). The other conferences take place in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and in Europe.
Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA), the hosts of the conference say the choice of Uganda as this year’s hosts is a vote of confidence in the efforts being undertaken by industry practitioners in the country.
“We competed with other countries and succeeded, it is not like we have been handpicked,” Charles Mwebembezi, the UFFA Chairman told press at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda offices on Monday, July 17.
Mwebembezi announced that over 500 high level delegates are expected to attend the Kampala conference. These include FIATA President, Basil Pietersen and Director General Dr Stéphane Graber.
“The President, all the way from Switzerland and the Director General will be here. These are very, very important guys that don’t normally move around like that,” said Mwebembezi.
“During the three days, we shall be able to interact with these international experts, we shall engage them, make synergies and learn from them.”
Husein Kiddedde, the RAME2023 Coordinator, said UFFA are already working with the Government through the Ministry of Trade, to ensure that the event is a success.
“This is a critical meeting; we need to come together and discuss the issues that affect us especially now that we are going into the African Continental Free Trade Area; it is an opportunity for us to shine and propel our economy forward,” he said.
On his part, Dr Stephen Asiimwe the CEO PSFU emphasized the importance of the upcoming conference, adding that “without a resilient supply chain system, any country is likely to fail.
“We assure of our utmost cooperation throughout the conference,” he said.
Dr Merian Sebunya, the National Participation Coordinator touted the remarkable journey that has been taken to transform the Ugandan freight forwarding industry, which she said was fought in the past with unprofessionalism, lack of standardization and chaos.
“UFFA came into existence to cleanse that image; to help the industry professionalize, get recognition from government, stakeholders, clients and to also get partnerships,” she said.
“We were struggling to be accepted; now we are accepted and recognized. We are getting recognition and partnerships from the government, regional trading blocs and now FIATA,” she said.
The RAME 2023 Conference will be held under the theme; “Resilience, Adaptability and Diversity in Global Supply Chains.”