According to Eustace Mashimbiye, CEO of Proudly South African, this is part of their commitment to highlight sectors for which Master Plans have been developed, including the automotive, furniture, clothing, textile, footwear and leather industries.

“The segment spotlighting the automotive industry will be recorded and made available to all audiences on the Summit platform to view at a later stage,” Mashimbiye told the media during the recent media launch. “Insights into the automotive sector will be shared in partnership with Nissan SA, where a closer look will be taken at the value chain behind vehicle manufacturing and the importance of localisation.”

With a theme of Reset/Build/Recover, the 2022 Summit & Expo will offer a dynamic and informative programme, including sessions on technical innovation, the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and job creation. “When it comes to recovery and reconstruction after the many challenges we faced over the past two years, we will showcase the benefits and impact of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on localisation, job creation and economic growth,” Mashimbiye said.

According to Mashimbiye, a prime objective is also to educate consumers on the impact of buying locally and supporting local manufacturers, which in turn, sources local raw materials.

The final day of the Summit promises a variety of practical workshops for entrepreneurs and business owners, with tips on solving common business challenges such as finding the best staff for your business, securing investors and ensuring that your intellectual property is protected.

Day three will also feature the fourth annual Business Solutions Hub, which offers live assistance to small businesses from various organisations and regulatory and legislative institutions. These include the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), the B-BBEE Commission, and the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa.

“The 2022 Buy Local Summit and Expo promises to be of significant benefit to consumers, entrepreneurs, business owners and the public sector alike, exploring the importance of buying local to reignite the South African economy,” Mashimbye concluded.

The Buy Local Summit and Expo is free to attend and will be streamed on YouTube. Visitors can register online for the event at www.buylocalsummit.co.za.