The 2026 SAPICS Conference, which takes place in Cape Town from 19 to 22 July 2026, is a milestone gathering as it also marks SAPICS’s 60th anniversary. The conference has attracted strong industry backing since its inception 48 years ago. The event is more important than ever today, with supply chains operating in an environment defined by disruption, shifting trade dynamics and rapid technological change. Ricardo Isaac, senior manager: Cargo Development and Operations at Dube Cargo Terminal, comments: “The SAPICS Conference provides an essential space to collectively reflect on lessons learned, share best practices, and align on strategies that enhance resilience and competitiveness. At this moment, dialogue between public and private sector stakeholders is key to shaping responsive, future-fit supply networks,” he stresses.

“As the operators of the Dube Cargo Terminal, we are directly invested in strengthening trade and connectivity within the logistics sector across the region. Sponsoring the conference reflects our commitment to industry collaboration and supporting initiatives that foster growth in the supply chain sector.”

Isaac notes that the SAPICS Conference creates opportunities for cross-sector engagement that would not typically occur in operational settings. “It encourages shared understanding and joint problem-solving. Collaboration of this nature is vital because supply chain performance is inherently interdependent; no single participant operates in isolation. The knowledge-sharing enabled by the SAPICS Conference accelerates the adoption of proven approaches and prevents organisations from operating in silos,” he expands. “By learning from real-world case studies and peer experience, businesses can anticipate risks, adopt adaptive strategies and improve decision-making, all of which contribute to more resilient and agile supply chain systems.”

The critical conversations that Dube TradePort hopes to see moving forward through the networking and collaboration enabled by the SAPICS Conference include discussions around infrastructure integration, improving efficiency across South Africa's logistics ecosystems and improving multimodal connectivity as well as security.  “Equally important are conversations about enabling trade facilitation and building collaborative frameworks that allow logistics platforms and operators to respond more efficiently to market demand,” Isaac adds. He says that an ongoing challenge is improving network reliability and efficiency across freight corridors, including infrastructure performance, regulatory alignment and operational coordination. “Addressing these systemic issues is essential to unlock intra-African trade growth, enhancing investor confidence and ensure that African supply chains are globally competitive.

“Being part of this landmark conference is exciting because Dube Cargo Terminal has an opportunity to contribute to the conversations and solutions to advance logistics across Africa,” Isaac concludes.

“We are delighted to welcome Dube TradePort Corporation as a Silver Sponsor this year and appreciate the organisation’s recognition of the SAPICS Conference’s role in helping to build collaborative, resilient and future-fit African supply chains,” says SAPICS president Thato Moloi.