The 2024 Manufacturing Indaba, held on 22-23 October at the Sandton ICC, demonstrated the resilience and recovery of South Africa’s manufacturing sector. With a strong focus on localisation and Intra-African trade, the event highlighted how collaborative efforts are driving industrial growth and economic sustainability across the continent.

The NCPC and NFTN participated in both the conference and the exhibition. During the Knowledge Hub sessions, NFTN Senior Project Manager, Isidore Kilongonzi presented on the importance of localisation and the role of the South Africa’s metal castings industry. He emphasised the need to strengthen domestic production capacity and reduce reliance on imports to allow local foundries to compete internationally.

On day two, Julie Wells, NCPC Operations and Communication Manager facilitated an engaging breakaway session exploring localisation opportunities in the capital equipment sector. The session explored how Intra-African trade can open new markets and unlock growth opportunities for manufacturers across the continent.

The Manufacturing Indaba, themed “Localisation in Africa,” stressed the importance of building a competitive, sustainable industrial base in a post-pandemic economy. Participants explored the latest technologies, innovative manufacturing solutions, and opportunities for partnerships between public and private sectors to drive regional growth.

As Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading manufacturing event, the Indaba continues to be a vital platform for forging business connections, sharing industry insights, and inspiring innovation.

For those who couldn’t attend, insights from the conference along with panel discussions and presentation highlights can be followed on all social media platforms under #MIGIndaba or via the https://manufacturingindaba.co.za/.

Media queries: Julie Wells (jwells@csir.co.za)

General enquiries: ncpc@csir.co.za