International exhibition and conference organiser Hyve Group has opened a Johannesburg office as a means to enhance its presence in South Africa and expand opportunities for South African citizens.

Hyve Group, which employs over 650 people in 12 offices globally, organises over 50 trade exhibitions and conferences in 11 countries and more than 20 technology-enabled meeting programmes a year.

In South Africa, Hyve operates three industry events, including Investing in African Mining Indaba, Africa Oil Week and the newly launched Green Energy Africa Summit.

With such large industry events hosted in Cape Town for almost three decades, Hyve already has a team of representatives based in South Africa, from senior advisory committees to local consultants, stretching across to the many suppliers and contractors that ensure the delivery of each content-driven event.

Hyve Group Africa Oil Week/Investing in African Mining Indaba portfolio director Simon Ford, who hosted the Johannesburg office opening earlier this month, says South Africa and the African continent are home to the group’s most important customers and partners across the mining and energy sectors.

“So we must develop our physical presence on the continent through the opening of our office in Sandton, Johannesburg.”

The group says it is cognisant of developing local skills and, in conjunction with opening an office in Johannesburg, is working closely with a local partner to obtain and establish broad-based black economic empowerment certification.

The official opening of the Johannesburg office was attended by representatives of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Minerals Council South Africa and the economic adviser from the office of the Presidency.

In addition, members and the chairperson of the Mining Indaba advisory board, as well as the chairperson of the Africa Oil Week/Green Energy Africa Summit advisory board also attended.

Attendees met to hear a report-back on the successful in-person Mining Indaba, which was held from May 9 to 11, in Cape Town, after a two-year absence owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Also under discussion was the sharing of ideas for the upcoming Mining Indaba 2023, which will return to Cape Town at its traditional time in February.