Global sand and aggregate producer representatives from across the globe will be gathering in Cape Town on the 11-13 April this year to find ways to work together and improve the overall industry worldwide. Hosted by the local Aggregate and Sand Producers Association of Southern Africa (Aspasa) the meeting brings together members of Global Aggregates Information Network which was started in 2010, driven by the conviction that international sharing of experience and best practice promotes a more efficient and sustainable aggregates industry globally.
GAIN meetings are attended by representatives from aggregates associations across Europe, from OSSGA of North America, FIPA of South America, CCAA of Australia and CAA of China. It is impressive that GAIN members currently represent 60% of the global aggregates production estimated at 37.5 billion tones, so therefore can potentially have a major lobbying strength on behalf of the industry globally.
According to Aspasa director, Nico Pienaar, the meeting will focus on broad issues ranging from economic issues, health and safety, technical and public relations challenges, as well as environmental and other issues with bearing on the industry worldwide. “Our industry faces many similar challenges across the globe and associations in various regions have devised different approaches and solutions. GAIN provides ongoing contacts between these associations and gives valuable support on specific industry challenges as they arise.
“South Africa has one of the most progressive associations worldwide and we are eager to show our best practices and reveal how we are dealing with challenges regarding illegal abstraction of materials, tough labour laws etc and show how our local industry has turned the corner in the last decade to become a safer and environmentally less damaging industry.”