Following two successful events in 2012 and 2013, Cool Logistics Africa returns in 2014 to Cape Town, at the heart of the Southern Africa citrus industry, to continue the debate on how to foster Africas perishables trade growth - by land, air and sea.

Moving to a new timeslot in early March, coinciding with preparations for the upcoming citrus export season, Cool Logistics Africa 2014 will once again provide a platform for everyone concerned with improving Africas perishable supply chain efficiency to connect, communicate and do business.

While fruit remains the key export crop from large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, notably South Africa, flowers and specialty vegetables from Kenya and Ethiopia are increasingly gaining ground on global markets. There are also new opportunities waiting to be developed in other countries such as Mauretania, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, Ghana is increasingly establishing itself as a reliable international supplier of fresh produce. At the same time, Africas perishable food imports are also on the rise, especially to satisfy a growing middle class appetite for protein.

But Africa remains at a significant disadvantage to other parts of the world when it comes to logistics costs and efficiency. One of the biggest stumbling blocks is the lack of infrastructure, coupled with a shortage of skilled workers, cumbersome trade regimes and burdensome bureaucracy. All of these are hampering the competitiveness of perishables trades to, from and within Africa. Landlocked nations are especially hard-pressed.

Under the theme of Integrating Global and Regional Perishable Supply Chains, the 3rd Cool Logistics Africa will bring shippers, logistics and transport providers from across the continent together with government agencies and overseas trading partners to:

• Promote regional and international trade facilitation
• Drive African perishable logistics to new levels of efficiency
• Forge links with perishable markets inside and outside Africa