SAEC

SAACI signs industry working partnership with EGF to drive sustainability

An industry Partnership Agreement between the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) and the Event Greening Forum (EGF) was announced at Meetings Africa in Johannesburg.

This strategic collaboration with several meetings and event industry representative organisations which have a clear interest in developing longterm business relations and in this instance, the sustainability of the meetings and events industry. By working with SAACI’s Association Community and the broad mass of SAACI’s membership, who drive the meetings and events industry, will be in an informed position regarding the working relations with the EGF. The objective is to exchange information and crosspromotion between both associations.

Jaques Fouche, national chairperson of SAACI, explained: “We are extremely pleased to conclude this partnership for both SAACI and EGF. SAACI needs to work with EGF in the drive of knowledge sharing which makes this partnership so relevant and important for the business events industry within Africa. We are looking forward to the exchange of critical information on sustainable events, held across the country. This information will assist in the bidding process of future events, that require sustainability deliverables. This will start an aggressive process in how we want to increase business events and association meetings in South Africa.”

Morwesi Ramonyai, chairperson of EGF, said: “Through the active participation of our members and association community on building shared knowledge in the manner we deliver sustainable meetings and events, will increase the support to the South African meetings industry and its objective to also achieve societal development through meetings. I would like to thank SAACI for their support over the years and am delighted to welcome this collaboration amongst EGF and SAACI.”

The partnership will bring strategic collaboration and will mutually benefit both associations through the exchange of information, creating awareness through affiliation, and working together to create new education and training opportunities for the benefit of the Business Events Industry in Africa.

Glenton De Kock, chief executive officer of SAACI, commented on the agreement: “The work between SAACI and association partners is to develop markets and drive association business events to Destination South Africa. A number of our member companies are active in ensuring that we deliver sustainable meetings and events. This initiative coincides with our view of the market and the way we wish to drive partnerships and collaboration in building a strong, sustainable business events industry for our continent with like-minded partners.”