The 2021 Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) was held on 5 – 7 July and brought together over 700 transport professionals to discuss, debate, and learn about relevant topics relating to the exciting world of transport. 

The International Road Federation was pleased to support this 39th annual Conference with the participation of IRF President, Mr. Bill Halkias, at the Opening Ceremony and IRF Director General, Ms. Susanna Zammataro, as a Plenary Speaker.  

During his speech at the Conference’s Opening Ceremony, IRF President Mr. Bill Halkias highlighted the importance, and need, for cooperation and coordination within the transport sector. In the same way, access to information is essential when it comes to fostering dialogue and collaboration between stakeholders in the transport sector. To exemplify, Mr Bill Halkias reminded of some actions undertaken by IRF in partnership with other organisations, such as: 

• The recently launched report on the impact of COVID-19 on transport and mobility in Africa, which was possible thanks to the collaboration between IRF and the UK-aid funded High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme; 

• The comprehensive knowledge resource centre on COIVD-19 and Transport available on the Global Transport Knowledge Partnership (gTKP) portal; 

• And the report “Sustainable Mobility: Policy Making for Data Sharing” launched in March by IRF and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) that draws attention to the need for policy guidance for data sharing between the public and private sector stakeholders in the transportation sector.  

Sharing knowledge and expertise is key to progress in the transport sector, and finding ways to coordinate and leverage on that expertise is equally important.

IRF President, Mr Bill Halkias

IRF Director General, Ms. Susanna Zammataro, shared some words on Mainstreaming Digitalisation into the Road Sector during the Opening Plenary on 7th July. Digitalisation and technology will play an essential role in the future – on this basis, Ms. Zammataro highlighted the importance of working together as an industry to create a genuily safe, sustainable, and efficient multi-modal transportation system.

Embracing technology and digitalisation in the sector is passing from being an option into a need. The transportation sector will have to learn do things differently going forward.

Adopting and mainstreaming digitalisation and new technologies into planning, design and construction of infrastructure will be a game-changer for the industry allowing for greater efficiency and transparency, more effective road asset management, a more sustainable use of resources (including natural resources) and a lot more.

IRF Director General, Ms. Susanna Zammataro

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