Munyaradzi Hwengwere, Chairman of Buy Zimbabwe, recently praised the collaborative efforts of stakeholders in South Africa during his participation in the “Proudly South African Buy Local Summit and Expo.” Speaking to Great Dyke News, Hwengwere highlighted the remarkable unity among businesses, trade unions, and government, which has propelled the success of the Buy Local initiative in the country.
Hwengwere expressed admiration for Proudly South African’s ability to bring together major industry players across various sectors, along with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to drive the initiative forward.
Proudly South African, established in 2001 following the 1998 Presidential Job Summit convened by the late former President Nelson Mandela, serves as the country’s official buy local advocacy campaign. Aligned with the government’s objective of addressing poverty, inequality, and unemployment, the initiative aims to promote local production and consumption.
The Buy Local Summit and Expo, an annual flagship event organized by Proudly South African, attracts significant attention for its inclusive approach. The 12th edition, held on March 25th and 26th, 2024, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, featured approximately 200 local vendors representing various sectors such as textiles, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and agriculture. Over the two-day period, the event welcomed around 2,000 visitors.
Under the theme “Localisation: An Inclusive Approach for All Sectors of Society to Contribute to Economic Growth and Job Creation,” the Summit emphasized the importance of fostering economic growth and creating employment opportunities through localization efforts.
