The action-packed programme of the Buy Local Summit and Expo was a smorgasbord of activities that amplified the overarching rallying cry of: Buy Local to Create Jobs, with a packed programme comprising of action-orientated, impactful discussions on a rich tapestry of pertinent themes relating to the localisation of the economy and the support for local entrepreneurs.
These discussions were punctuated by a protest march headlined by doyens of the local fashion industry and a light-hearted tribute to the iconic household brands that have won the hearts and minds (and wallets) of South Africans.
The 2025 edition of the Buy Local Summit and Expo has grown in stature to become the premier buy local campaign. The exhibition, which is the crown jewel of the event, is touted as the country’s largest local procurement gathering.
This year’s edition of the Buy Local and Summit featured over 200 exhibitors spanning diverse industries from information and communication technology (ICT), textile, automotive, cosmetics and personal care, beverages, confectionary, food, and gaming industries.
The event was officially opened with a keynote address by Lebogang Maile, Gauteng MEC for Economic Development, who said increased local procurement is an important lever that should be harnessed to bolster economic self-reliance and stimulate the growth of small and medium sized businesses. He said that localisation of the economy is a strategic lever that can usher change and incubate talent, innovation, and ingenuity. Maile pointed out that the recent geo-political developments should serve as a wake-up call to accelerate self-reliance and that the minerals that the country is endowed with, which are critical for new-age industries such as electric vehicles, should be leveraged as South Africa’s competitive advantage.
Proudly South African Board Chairman, Howard Gabriels, says the spiralling unemployment which leads to a range of social ills, can only be arrested if consumers, the public and private sector can mobilise available resources to procure goods and services locally. To that end, Gabriels announced the launch on an online portal which is the first online store of its kind In South Africa that sells exclusively South African made products.
Localisation of economy
The highlight of the first day was a panel discussion where the theme of the conference: Building a resilient economy through localisation, was discussed. This session featured captains of industry from the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA), Aluminium Federation of South Africa, South African Furniture Initiative, Tourism Business Council and South African Breweries.
Shinny Gobiyeza, the Chief Operations Officer at NAAMSA, now known as the Automotive Business Council, said the growth of electric and hybrid vehicles is opening new entry points and avenues of advancement for SMEs to supply the components needed for drivetrains and other components. Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Business Council, Tshifiwa Tshivhengwa, said the tourism industry provides ample opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs down the tourism value chain: from car rentals to the chisanyana establishments. He pointed out that tourism is about experience and implored the players in the tourism industry to offer tourists an authentically South African experience by sourcing everything that the tourists interact with from local vendors and businesses.
The SAB’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Kgosi Mogotsi said his organisation always explores opportunities to source raw products from local farmers. He said the brewer sources 95% of its raw materials from local farmers and cited a partnership they forged with a local farmer in Moletele in Limpopo, where the SAB has sourced 250 tonnes of lime from the cooperative farm.
In a panel discussion that explored the impact of illicit trade on the economy, the panellists agreed that the impact of illicit are far-reaching and devastating on the economy as they not only deprive the state of much-needed revenue, but haemorrhages already scarce job opportunities, exerts downward pressure on wages, results in closures of local enterprises who are rendered uncompetitive by skewed business practises, promotes precarious employment and funds adjacent illicit activities such as organized crime and human trafficking.
The panellists agreed that a more coordinated efforts is required between different industries and government agencies, that the South African Revenue Services (SARS) needs to deploy tailored technology solutions to improve monitoring and compliance, and that the National Treasury should allocate more funding to SARS to beef up its capacity.
The heart of Africa’s richest square mile was transformed into a beehive of activity when leading local fashion designers took to the streets to embark on a protest action to raise awareness about the impact of illicit trading on the local fashion industry. The march, a key feature of the Buy Local Summit & Expo 2025, was a rallying call for consumers, retailers, and policymakers to prioritise locally made goods and protect jobs within the sector.
The protest action was led by award-winning fashion designers, David Tlale, Mzukisi Mbane, Palesa Mokubung, Otsile Sefolo, Vanya Mangaliso, and Craig Jacobs following a panel discussion aptly dubbed: Timeless Threads – The Evolution of South African Fashion, where the designers lamented the adverse impact of illicit trade on the local fashion industry. The protesters handed two memorandums to Michael Lawrence, President of the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) and to Dr Jay Irkhede, Director of Leather and Footwear at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), reinforcing the call for stronger measures to combat counterfeit goods and unfair competition in the fashion industry.
Addressing the funding gap
According to the IFC 2019 MSME report, the total funding gap for SMEs in South Africa is estimated at a whopping $30billion, or R555 billion. The funding currently provided by commercial banks, development finance institutions and private equity is around $16 billion, or R296 billion. Many upstart businesses and SMEs often cite lack of access to funding as one of the biggest impediments for growth and one of the factors that leads to failure.
The funding symposium, which was held under the auspices of the Gauteng provincial government, explored various funding methods available for start-ups and emerging SMEs. The session was chaired by representatives from the Gauteng Enterprise Propellor, Standard Bank, ABSA, Sourcefin, SAB Foundation and the Small Enterprise Finance Agency (sefa).
The panellists were unanimous that start-ups can de-risk themselves by opting for cashless transactions and utilising smart apps that can simultaneously profile their transactions and build an income statement, which is a critical requirement when emerging start-ups apply for funding.
The panellists stressed the importance of mentorship for entrepreneurs and noted that improving technical skills and financial aptitude are fundamental traits required to run a sustainable and successful enterprise.
SEFA indicated that they provide micro businesses located in townships and rural areas with financial assistance which comprises of repayable loans and grants that is capped at a maximum amount of R250 000. Sourcefin advised entrepreneurs that the organisation negates the credit history of applicants and provides funding based on the feasibility of the business. SAB announced that its Foundation focuses on social entrepreneurs who focus on socially impactful ventures.
The funding symposium assembled dozens of advisors at the venue to share advice and help entrepreneurs with their funding requirements.
Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive Officer of Proudly South African, said the Buy Local Summit and Expo seeks to go beyond words and offer practical interventions that can enrich the fortunes and the lives of local entrepreneurs: “We are acutely aware of the challenges facing entrepreneurs and the unabating socio-economic challenges of rising unemployment, deepening levels of poverty and widening inequality makes the localisation of procurement and enhanced support for local enterprises even more urgent and greater. The time to diagnose the challenges is over, now is the time for all of us to roll our sleeves and get our hands dirty by implementing solutions that can improve the prospects of local entrepreneurs and turbo charge economic growth. The Buy Local Summit and Expo is not just another talk shop – it is a platform that rallies all the stakeholders to provide tangible and sustainable solutions that will make a discernible difference in the lives of South Africans,” says Mashimbye.
A heartfelt thank you to our generous sponsors, ABSA, Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), Department of Trade Industry Competition (Dtic), Santam, Transnet, Gauteng Economic Development/Gauteng Enterprise Propeller, South 32, Hulamin, South African Breweries, Automotive Industry Transformation Fund (AITF), Sasol, Telkom, Standard Bank, Sa Tourism, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Nestle ESAR, Southern Sun and Brand SA.
Without whom this event would not have been possible. Your contributions go beyond financial support; they demonstrate a true commitment to the growth and empowerment of local enterprises.
