Rashid Toefy, the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) has been appointed as the new chairperson of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) African Chapter.
ICCA represents the main specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events and comprises 900 member companies and organisations in 85 countries worldwide.
According to Toefy, whose two year tenure started last month, an association like ICCA plays a pivotal role in developing and growing the local meetings and events industry and enhancing the global competitiveness of the continent.
With its diverse member database ICCA is a great source of lead generation for meetings in Africa.
“There is often a perception that doing business in Africa is difficult. Yet the fact that Africa managed to successfully host some of the world’s biggest sporting events and conferences such as the rugby and cricket world cups, the World Summit on Sustainable Development (20,000 delegates), the World Conference against Racism (14,000), the International Diabetes Federation (12,700) and of course the 2010 FIFA World Cup TM is further testament to the continent’s ability to host global meetings and events” says Toefy.
“A key focus for the chapter going forward is to put Africa on the global map through proactively positioning Africa as a leading international meetings and events destination” adds Toefy.
Another focus area for the Chapter will be to increase the number of pan African events taking place on the continent. While there are only a certain number of international conferences that rotate in Africa, there are many more intra African meetings and conferences taking place, which are not recognised.
Through the African Chapter Toefy hopes to tap into this market and get these events internationally accredited.
Another strategic initiative on the cards is to establish closer business linkages with local airline carriers such as South African Airways. In order to further encourage business tourism into Africa it is vital that industry works in conjunction with partners like SAA to enhance the desirability of Africa as a business destination said Toefy.
Toefy believes that with the appointment of Nomasonto Ndlovu, Global Manager - Business Tourism at South African Tourism, as Deputy Chairperson of the ICCA African Chapter the chapter will readily achieve its goals.
Going forward Toefy and Ndlovu will be devising a business strategy that is focused at raising Africa’s profile as a leading meeting and event destination. This strategy is expected to be ratified at the 49th ICCA Congress, which will be held in Hyderabad, India in October later this year.
