MSME Conference

07 September 2026
Conferences

About the Conference

The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) will host the 2nd MSME Annual Conference, building on the inaugural MSME Conference held in Gqeberha in July 2025. The inaugural conference marked a significant milestone for the Agency through the launch of the Cross-Border Incubation Programme, aimed at supporting emerging and historically disadvantaged operators within the cross-border road transport sector.

The 2nd MSME Conference, scheduled to take place on 15 – 16 September 2026, is positioned as an implementation and learning platform, providing an opportunity to reflect on progress made since the launch of the Incubation Programme, share lessons learned, strengthen partnerships and advance practical support for MSMEs in the cross-border road transport industry.

The conference will be held under the  theme: “From Dialogue to Action: Strengthening MSME Participation in Cross-Border Road Transport.”

Conference Objective

The purpose of the 2nd MSME Annual Conference is to consolidate the gains made since the inaugural conference and advance the implementation of initiatives that support sustainable MSME participation in the cross-border road transport industry.

The conference aims to:

  • Review progress and early outcomes of the Cross-Border Incubation Programme;
  • Strengthen structured support for MSMEs through incubation, capacity building, market access and  mentorship;  
  • Improve access to finance and markets by connecting MSMEs with financiers, industry partners and potential market opportunities; 
  • Enhance collaboration and partnerships between the C-BRTA, MSMEs, government, financiers and industry; 
  • Promote inclusive participation of women, youth and historically disadvantaged groups in the cross-border road transport sector; and 

The conference builds on lessons from the inaugural conference and the implementation of the Incubation Programme, recognising that MSMEs require differentiated and sustained support according to their stage of development. It will therefore provide a platform to explore practical and scalable interventions that can improve the sustainability and competitiveness of emerging operators.

Target Audience

The conference will convene:

  • Cross-Border Road Freight MSME Operators 
  • Domestic and Passenger Operators transitioning to cross-border freight 
  • Government Departments, Regulators and Public Entities 
  • Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), Commercial Banks and Investors 
  • Industry Associations  and Logistics Value-Chain Partners 
  • OEMs
  • Business Development Service Providers and Incubators 
  • Development Partners and Research Institutions 

Conference Focus Areas

  • Access to Finance: Exploring sector-appropriate financing solutions, blended finance models and, funding readiness; 
  • Market Access and Industry Integration: Promoting supplier development, localisation, access to contracts;
  • Incubation and Capacity Building: Providing differentiated mentorship, compliance readiness, and operational efficiency. 
  • Innovation and Technology: Exploring fleet management systems and digital tools for efficiency; 
  • Policy and Regulatory Environment: Strengthening regulatory alignment, compliance support and engagement  with regulators; 
  • Sustainability and Resilience: Promoting long-term business viability, resilience and environmentally responsible transport practises. 

Conference Format

  • Keynote addresses 
  • Panel discussions and presentations 
  • Plenary sessions 
  • MSME and industry engagement sessions 
  • Networking sessions 
  • Stakeholder engagement and partnership sessions 

Expected outcomes include:

  • Demonstrated progress and shared learning from the incubation programme;
  • Strengthened partnerships and collaboration agreements;
  • Improved access to finance and market opportunities for MSMEs;
  • Increased visibility and market exposure for incubation participants;
  • Practical, implementable recommendations;
  • A consolidated post-conference implementation and monitoring plan.

 

To Register and for more information or enquiries, please contact: 

Ms. Ruby Mpumlwana @ Ruby.Mpumlwana@cbrta.co.za 

Ms. Tshifhiwa Maboko @ Tshifhiwa.Maboko@cbrta.co.za.