THE inaugural Made in Africa event takes place on 13 and 14 April 2021. The online programme will bring together purchasing decision makers, policymakers, investors, and businesses from across the continent.
The event’s theme is “Buy Africa, For Africa”, organisers Smart Procurement World and SAPICS (The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management) have announced.
“The goal is for this gathering to kickstart a movement that achieves measurable impact, access to market opportunities, and economic growth across industry sectors,” said Smart Procurement Commercial Head Keshni Reddy.
“A number of interventions, regulations, and trade policies exist; however, there is still a need to create a clear roadmap to connect the right decision and policymakers with relevant businesses and for trade linkages to be facilitated. There is no time like now for the whole continent to unite and work together to enable local business and cross-border trade,” she said.
The new event follows the inaugural 2020 Africa Supply Chain in Action (ASCA) virtual conference and exhibition, which saw more than 900 professionals from 44 African countries, representing both private and public sector entities.
According to Reddy, Made in Africa aims to maintain the momentum of the growing movement to build effective and collaborative partnerships to grow businesses in Africa, for Africa.
Delegates who attended ASCA 2020 echoed this view. “We need solutions by Africa for Africa,” said United Kingdom-based supply chain professional Haleema Idris after ASCA 2020. “The fact is that COVID-19 has tested our limits and forced us to be self-sufficient within our continent.”
Also speaking after ASCA 2020, Adenike Onasoga, a supply chain professional in Nigeria, said, “The biggest takeaway for me is that Africa stands to be one of the globe’s key traders, with supply chain at the core of its policies and huge potential to grow the continent’s various economies”.
ASCA featured more than 60 international speakers and delegates and exhibitors from 44 countries. They now form the ASCAnation community. Made in Africa will showcase 1 000 local African businesses from across the continent and link them to this growing online purchasing community.
Key topics that will be explored at Made in Africa include procurement and supply chain inclusion, local suppliers, and policy and regulation.
For more information about Made in Africa, email info@smartprocurementworld.com.
