Sandton: Proudly South African’s annual Buy Local Summit and Expo is underway at the Sandton Convention Centre in Gauteng. Monday and Tuesday’s summit will see over 200 exhibitors show off their wares while panel discussions will also be held.

According to South African Government News Agency, the summit will promote locally made products and services with 2025 marking the 13th edition of the summit. The summit will also see Proudly South African engaging various private sector organisations to adopt localisation commitments. Proudly SA aims to foster an industry culture that prioritises locally manufactured goods and services, thereby uplifting communities and creating essential jobs.

Speakers at the summit include Gauteng Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile, while the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition is also expected to address the gathering. In recent years, there has been a notable increase in private sector businesses leading the charge to enhance their local procurement initiatives.

The efforts of companies committed to supporting local production not only enhance their own financial performance but also transform lives through job creation. Proudly South African is a membership-based organisation, and only companies that have been audited and approved are entitled to carry the logo, which is a sign that a product or service meets local content thresholds and quality standards.

Proudly South African works with the public and private sectors to promote increased levels of local procurement through supply chain structures and with consumers to change habits of everyday store and online purchases.