The Manufacturing Indaba 2026 will take place on 14–15 July 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg under the theme "Made in Africa: Scaling Growth, Shaping Trade.”
Image: Supplied
The Manufacturing Indaba 2026 will take place on 14–15 July 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg under the theme "Made in Africa: Scaling Growth, Shaping Trade.”
Image: Supplied
Africa’s manufacturing sector stands at a defining moment. As global supply chains shift, industrial priorities evolve, and African markets continue to expand, the continent has a unique opportunity to position itself as a globally competitive manufacturing powerhouse.
Against this backdrop, the Manufacturing Indaba 2026 will take place on 14–15 July 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg under the theme: “Made in Africa: Scaling Growth, Shaping Trade.”
Recognised as one of Africa’s leading industrialisation platforms, the Manufacturing Indaba brings together manufacturers, investors, policymakers, technology providers, logistics companies, financiers and industrial leaders from across the continent.
The event combines a high-level conference with a vital industrial exhibition that showcases the latest manufacturing technologies, industrial solutions, machinery, automation systems, energy innovations and supply chain capabilities driving Africa’s industrial growth.
The 2026 conference programme will tackle some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. Discussions will explore how Africa can move from being primarily an exporter of raw materials to becoming a value-added manufacturing hub capable of competing globally.
Key plenary sessions will focus on Africa’s industrial future, financing industrialisation, enabling technologies for manufacturing growth, and the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in unlocking a US$3.4 trillion market for “Made in Africa” products.
Infrastructure and energy security remain central to industrial development, and the event will examine how transmission expansion, rail modernisation, ports, logistics and regional trade corridors can improve competitiveness and reduce the cost of doing business across Africa. Sessions such as “The Infrastructure–Manufacturing Nexus” and “Trade Corridors and Logistics: AfCFTA in Action” will address practical solutions to strengthening industrial supply chains.
Technology and innovation will also feature strongly. Industry leaders will debate the impact of AI, automation, digitalisation and smart manufacturing under the Industry 4.0 agenda, while innovation-focused discussions will highlight African-led research and development solutions designed specifically for the continent’s manufacturing environment.
Sector-specific discussions will cover automotive manufacturing, FMCG expansion, agro-processing, mining beneficiation and critical minerals processing — all industries with major growth potential under AfCFTA. At the same time, the event will examine the importance of vocational training and workforce development in preparing Africa’s labour force for the factories of the future.
Importantly, the industrial exhibition forms a core pillar of the Manufacturing Indaba. The exhibition floor provides companies with a powerful platform to showcase products, technologies and services directly to decision-makers, procurement teams, governments and investors actively seeking industrial partnerships and solutions.
Combined with structured B2B networking and business matchmaking opportunities, the event creates an environment designed to stimulate investment, partnerships and real commercial outcomes.
As Africa accelerates its industrialisation journey, Manufacturing Indaba 2026 is set to play a critical role in shaping conversations, fostering collaboration and driving the continent’s manufacturing future forward.