Organised by the South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), in association with Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery, and endorsed by the Premier of Gauteng the exhibition is scheduled to take place at the Expo Centre, Nasrec, Gauteng from 21 to 23 May 2019.

The South African Capital Equipment Export Council (SACEEC), in association with Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery has announced the launch of the Local Manufacturing Exhibition 2019 (LME), an exhibition that aims to showcase South Africa’s local manufacturing capabilities.

The manufacturing sector offers the potential to significantly accelerate South Africa’s economic growth and development. With a specific focus on Gauteng, the exhibition will showcase leading local industries to thousands of potential national and international investors. Cutting across a wide range of sectors, the exhibition’s objective is to demonstrate the power of local manufacturing as the key to unlocking vast economic empowerment, growth, development, job creation, export opportunities and investment, according to the press release.

“SACEEC has been working closely with the Gauteng Provincial Government, which has identified key sectors of the economy that have the potential to address multiple imperatives such as greater economic inclusion and additional employment opportunities,” says Eric Bruggeman, CEO of the SACEEC.

“The manufacturing sector is considered one of Gauteng’s largest economic sectors and with its labour-intensive characteristics and other socio-economic benefits, it has the power to create jobs and export opportunities faster than any other sector,” said Bruggeman.

“The show will provide a definitive platform to present, launch and showcase leading local manufacturing capabilities to a highly qualified and targeted audience of decision-makers with major purchasing power. For visiting delegates, the show will present the best that South African manufacturing has to offer, across a broad spectrum of industries, including civils and construction, mining, agriculture, process industries and power and utilities, to name just a few,” according to Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director of the LME.

“The LME’s interactive style will provide multiple networking opportunities and free-to-attend seminars, providing exhibitors and industry experts with an opportunity to highlight industry challenges and opportunities,” says Hefer.

“This will significantly enhance the value of the exhibitor and visitor experience,” she adds.

“LME aims to promote and showcase local manufacturing across all industry sectors, to promote these leading local players to local and international markets, increasing their competitiveness, providing greater exposure to global markets and demonstrating South Africa’s strong export potential,” adds Bruggeman.

“South Africa has faced some economic challenges in recent years, but with Government’s support we are focusing our efforts on establishing manufacturing hubs that will revive this economic sector, accelerate job creation, increase export opportunities and eliminate competition from cheap imports,” says Bruggeman.

“Part of our mandate to promote the globalisation of local industry is to provide opportunities for promotion through events such as the LME,” he says.

In 2017 the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) entered into a partnership with SACEEC to promote transformation in the manufacturing industry in Gauteng.

The GGDA’s key objective is to spearhead economic development efforts for Gauteng by targeting local and international business stakeholders. The GDDA recognises the importance of investment as a driver of job creation, skills development and economic growth.

One of the pillars of the partnership between GGDA and SACEEC is the development of existing and emerging black owned companies to integrate such businesses into the formal manufacturing sector in Gauteng.

The LME is organised by Specialised Exhibitions Montgomery. Specialised Exhibitions will be working in collaboration with the SACEEC, a representative body for the capital equipment and machinery project sector, which has a mandate to facilitate the globalisation of South African industry, and take a proactive role in creating growth and export opportunities for local companies.

For further details on the Local Manufacturing Exhibition visit www.localmanufacturingexpo.co.za