The Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) and the Event Greening Forum (EGF) have formally partnered to ensure a sustainable future for the business events industry.

This forms part of SAACI’s ongoing strategic collaboration with several meetings and events industry representative organisations which have a clear interest in developing long-term business relations – in this instance the sustainability of the meetings and events industry.

By working more collaboratively and deliberately, SAACI’s association community and the broad base 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 cross-promotion between both associations. 

Jaques Fouche, SAACI National Chairperson explained: “We are extremely pleased to conclude this partnership for both SAACI and EGF. We will work together to drive 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 which will allow for the sharing of crucial information to the bidding process for future events that will require clarity on how sustainably the event will be delivered. This will start an aggressive process in how we want to increase business events and association meetings in South Africa.”

EGF Chairperson, Morwesi Ramonyai, agreed. “Through the active participation of members and the association community on building shared knowledge on 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.

SAACI CEO, Glenton De Kock, 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 strong, sustainable business events industry for our continent with like-minded partners.”