In a world where global supply chains face extraordinary risks – from geopolitical instability to climate disruption – the importance of collaboration between industry bodies cannot be overstated. Locally, two respected organisations have stepped forward with a partnership designed to strengthen South Africa’s logistics backbone. The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport SA (CILTSA) and the Institute for Customs and Freight Forwarding (ICFF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at raising professionalism across the sector.
The agreement combines CILTSA’s reach in transport, logistics and supply chain management with ICFF’s specialist knowledge of customs and freight forwarding. The goal is to improve skills, create clear career pathways and help build an industry that can compete globally.
“This collaboration represents a shared commitment to advancing our industry,” says Ingrid du Buisson, CEO of the ICFF. “Instead of working in silos, we are building bridges to collectively take responsibility for ensuring our sector becomes globally competitive and raises its credibility. As an industry that facilitates 95% of South Africa’s international trade, our mission is to professionalise this sector, and we look forward to collaborating with the industry to grow SA Inc.”
Broad benefits in disrupted waters
CILTSA President Elvin Harris underscores the point. “By leveraging our respective strengths, we will be able to solve complex challenges and drive innovation,” he says. “This partnership will have a direct and positive impact on students, employees, and professionals across the logistics value chain, ensuring we are better equipped to meet the demands of a dynamic global economy.”
For members, the MoU opens up practical benefits: joint events, workshops and webinars, discounted participation rates and the prospect of joint credentialing to elevate professional recognition.
As du Buisson and Harris conclude, the agreement marks “a new era of cooperation, moving beyond traditional boundaries to create a more integrated and credible logistics ecosystem in South Africa.”
Editor’s comment: South Africa’s logistics system is under pressure from every angle – regulatory gaps, skills shortages, rising costs and global volatility. If professional bodies can pool resources and create pathways that lift standards across the board, the entire supply chain gains resilience. What CILTSA and the ICFF are signalling here is that it’s time for the logistics industry in this country to build intra-sector cohesion – a message worth backing.
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