Renewed Focus: Buy Local Summit & Expo 2026

Temo Mpodi

The importance of increased localised procurement and consumer spend will take centre stage at the Proudly South African Buy Local Summit & Expo 2026. The event comes at a critical time for the economy, amid debilitating tariff hikes imposed by the Donald Trump-led administration on South African exports to the United States.

The 30% tariff increases on South African exports to the US have reignited fears of significant job losses. Several industries are now scrambling to identify alternative export markets for their products, placing additional pressure on an already strained economy.

Economic Pressure and the Case for Buying Local

While tariff hikes will not form part of the formal discussion agenda at the 14th edition of the Buy Local Summit & Expo, the broader economic climate makes the focus on local procurement more urgent than ever.

The annual two-day event, taking place on 16 and 17 March 2026, will spotlight key structural challenges facing the South African economy. These include the influx of illicit goods, illicit money flows, dumping, and the proliferation of counterfeit products.

The summit will also assess the progress made by various stakeholders in mitigating the adverse impact of offshore e-commerce retailers on local retail, clothing, footwear, textile and leather sectors. These industries remain under significant strain due to unfair trade practices and growing international competition.

From Talk Shop to Action

“In addition to the punitive tariffs imposed on South Africa, the economy continues to be battered on many fronts. The upcoming Buy Local Summit & Expo seeks to become more than just a talk shop, but more of an appraisal of the strides that various stakeholders have achieved to address some of the challenges that are debilitating our economy,” says Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive Officer of Proudly South African.

He adds that the current economic challenges reinforce the importance of leveraging internal resources.

“The challenges we are facing give credence to the importance of tapping into the internal resources that we have to weather the storms and navigate our economy out of this morass. By aggregating consumer demand and harnessing our substantial public and private sectors, we can stimulate economic growth, reignite consumer demand and create much-needed jobs,” Mashimbye explains.

Business Matchmaking and Sector Collaboration

The Buy Local Summit & Expo attracts more than 1 600 delegates and 200 exhibitors. Attendees include government ministers, entrepreneurs, investors and funders, creating a platform for meaningful engagement across sectors.

A key highlight of the event is the business matchmaking session. This structured networking platform connects small and medium-sized enterprises with established conglomerates. The aim is to unlock procurement opportunities, strengthen supply chains and drive inclusive economic participation.

By bringing together policymakers, business leaders and SMEs, the Buy Local Summit & Expo 2026 positions itself as a strategic platform to advance local procurement, protect jobs and stimulate sustainable economic growth in South Africa.

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