Roads and economics are interlinked

ROADS AND ECONOMICS

are interlinked

Sound road infrastructure enables economic growth, investment and much required skills within a country. This crucial message will be central to the upcoming 7th Regional Conference for Africa, to be held from 18 to 20 October at Cape Town International Convention Centre.

Professor Andre Roux, a keynote speaker at the event and head of the Futures Studies Programme at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, stresses: “Infrastructure counts, and it counts a lot.”

In terms of African countries, where optimal road networks are often “a bit few and far between”, he further adds: “It is one of the most important fundamental requirements of overall economic growth and development.”

The international conference – which is being hosted by the South African Road Federation (SARF) in collaboration with the International Road Federation (IRF) and the World Road Association (PIARC) – is drawing delegates and speakers from across the globe. While many are coming to share in best practice examples from other countries, Professor Roux believes that many are also coming to seek out opportunities on the continent.

“The fact that the continent has such a huge infrastructure deficit implies there are actually a great number of investment opportunities,” he says. “Africa has a growing middle-income class and these are the consumers that really drive an economy; the bigger this economic group in a country, the greater the demand for a whole range of goods and services.”

Supply chain networks

The problem, notes Roux, lies in connecting the goods produced with the consumer base demanding them. Even in South Africa, where excellent goods are produced efficiently in factories, very real supply chain problems exist in terms of sufficient, well-maintained and safe road networks.

“Getting the goods from factory floor to the market becomes a big challenge,” notes Roux. “And it also goes way beyond just the roads network; it also needs to include digital infrastructure, good solid institutions with integrity; and entire educational systems geared towards the right kinds of skills.”

Basil Jonsson, operations director for SARF, agrees, noting that the three-day programme has been tailored to embrace all these factors: “We have talks ranging from the optimisation of road networks in rural areas and publicprivate partnership financing models, to digital transformations in transportation data collection, new road and pavement materials being developed for sustainability, and the importance of upgrading skills and capacity throughout our sector.”

Basil Jonsson, operations director, SARF

Professor Andre Roux, head: Futures Studies Programme, University of Stellenbosch Business School

Key focus areas

The programme on the first day of the conference (Tuesday, 18 October) will focus on road needs and financing, the preserving of Africa’s road assets, as well as safe and efficient transport by road. This last topic will continue on to Day 2 (Wednesday, 19 October), which will also include talks around the role of low-volume roads, as well as innovative practices (both of which will continue on to Day 3) and capacity development. Day 3 will introduce the subject of roads and the environment.

With a strong emphasis throughout the conference on road safety, one of the other highlights around this topic will be a workshop hosted by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) on ‘Management Practices for Safe Roads’. A panel of renowned international and local experts will include Professor Benjamin Colucci, a global stalwart in the areas of transportation and construction, as well as Angela Montano, project lead on UNITAR’s Road Safety Global Training Initiative.

ECSA accreditation has been secured by SARF for the conference, with 1 CPD Point in Category 1 for each of the three days. A vibrant trade exhibition (with 37 exhibitors in total) will be central to the event.

For more information, contact SBS Conferences & Exhibitions on +27 (0)71 348 1780, email info@sbs.co.za or visit sbs.co.za/sarf2022.