To showcase the best South Africa has to offer in terms of local manufacturing and South African-produced capital equipment, capital equipment manufactures lobby group the South African Capital Equipment Exporters Council (Saceec) has partnered with exhibition organisers Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery to launch a first-time event in South Africa – the Local Manufacturing Exhibition (LME).

The partnership aims to accelerate the rate of transformation in the manufacturing industry through the incorporation of established and emerging black entrepreneurs and industrialists.

The LME is due to be held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, in Nasrec, from May 21 to 23, 2019.

Engineered to be a definitive event for Gauteng’s top industry role-payers, the LME aims to showcase domestic manufacturing capabilities across a broad range of industry sectors, including agroprocessing; automotive; business process outsourcing; capital equipment; chemicals; construction; engineering; food and beverage; furniture; information and communication technologies; electronics; metals; mining; plastics; textiles, clothing and footwear; and transport.

It is also designed to showcase interactive, educational and practical platforms that will enable local manufacturers to showcase and demonstrate their products, capabilities and capacities.

Further, the LME also aims to promote the transformation of Gauteng’s manufacturing sector. In this regard, LME is endorsed by Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the Gauteng Capital Equipment Transformation Partnership, as well as Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile.

The Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) also entered into a partnership with Saceec in 2017 to promote transformation in the manufacturing industry in Gauteng. A key element of the partnership is the development of existing and emerging black-owned companies to integrate such businesses into the formal manufacturing sector in Gauteng.

The GGDA’s key objective is to lead economic development efforts for Gauteng by targeting local and international business stakeholders through the recognition of the vital role that investment can play in terms of creating jobs, developing skills and growing the economy.

Therefore, the LME will play a key role in facilitating the objectives of these partnerships, thereby promoting local industry sectors and providing exposure to local and international markets. It also aims to increase local competitiveness, and demonstrate South Africa’s strong manufacturing capabilities and export potential.

The LME also serves to forge mutually beneficial public- and private-sector partnerships, fast-track economic development and create sustainable investment in the local economy.

The expo will also feature seminars free of charge, providing exhibitors and industry experts an opportunity to highlight industry challenges and opportunities.