Powering Africa’s industrial Leap at the 2026 Manufacturing Indaba
November 2025
News
Over 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity, yet the continent’s industrial potential is vast. The challenge is no longer just access, it’s how to power industries, create jobs and fuel digital economies for sustainable growth. The 2026 Manufacturing Indaba is set to address this critical issue, bringing together stakeholders to explore how reliable energy can unlock Africa’s industrial future.
Event Details
Dates: 14 to 15 July 2026
Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Key Highlights
• Strategic discussions: Engage with policymakers, industry leaders and innovators on strategies to scale African industrial capacity and create jobs.
• Innovative solutions: Explore cutting-edge technologies in energy, manufacturing and infrastructure development.
• Investment opportunities: Connect with global investors and trade partners to drive industrial growth.
• Policy dialogues: Discuss frameworks that empower local manufacturing and exports, aligning with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives.
The role of AfCFTA in industrial growth
The AfCFTA, established to create a single market for goods and services across Africa, is pivotal in transforming the continent’s industrial landscape. By eliminating tariffs and reducing trade barriers, AfCFTA aims to:
• Boost intra-African trade: Increase intra-African trade by more than half by the end of 2025, potentially adding $450 billion to Africa’s GDP by 2035.
• Strengthen regional value chains: Facilitate the development of regional supply chains, enhancing industrial capacity and resilience.
• Attract investment: Create a more attractive investment climate by harmonising trade policies and reducing costs.
The 2026 Manufacturing Indaba is more than an event, it is the launchpad for a new era of African manufacturing where innovation, investment and regional collaboration under the African Continental Free Trade Area converge to transform the continent’s industrial potential into tangible growth, trade opportunities and shared prosperity.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/manufacturing-indaba
X: twitter.com/IndabaManufact
Facebook: www.facebook.com/manufacturingindaba
For more information contact Sharon Phiri, Manufacturing Indaba, +27 11 463 9184, [email protected], www.manufacturingindaba.co.za
Further reading:
Helping mines get results from water improvements
News
South African mines operate under constrained, water-scarce conditions where every investment must be justified. Xylem’s Chetan Mistry explains how the right water technology partner helps mines prioritise high-value water systems across the mining lifecycle.
Read more...
From solar to water, onsite plants are the next big industrial resilience shift
News
South African industrial operators who secured their energy supply with onsite solar generation now face the same imperative with water. Robert Erasmus of Sanitech argues that onsite water treatment is the next essential pillar of business continuity.
Read more...
From the editor's desk: Pushing engineering to the limit
Technews Publishing
News
Among the many things robots can do, it’s a lot of fun to follow how fast they are. They go from the Boston Dynamics cheetah, which first reached a record-breaking speed of 45,5 km/h, to the robot Charlie
...
Read more...
Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme for energy and industrial tech startups.
Read more...
VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026
VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...
Sustainable solutions for sugar
Bearing Man Group t/a BMG
News
BMG received a Special Commendation Exhibition Stand Award at the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association Congress, where it showcased an integrated turnkey drive solution designed to simplify the upgrading of ageing crushing-mill drive systems.
Read more...
Measure, Manage, Maintain: The operating model behind SA’s water resilience
Siemens South Africa
News
South Africa’s growing water crisis is putting pressure on infrastructure, municipalities and the economy. Siemens highlights how digital technologies, smarter operations and safe water reuse could help shift the country from crisis response towards a more resilient and sustainable water future.
Read more...
VEGA brings measurement expertise beyond mining to Electra Mining Africa 2026
VEGA Controls SA
News
VEGA used its Electra Mining Africa 2026 stand to demonstrate that its level and pressure measurement instruments extend well beyond mining, covering water, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and oil and gas applications across the continent.
Read more...
Schneider Electric concludes Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa
News
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa, held in Abu Dhabi with more than 2500 attendees, explored the convergence of energy, AI and industrial software, launched an Industrial AI study and announced the NEST Accelerator Programme.
Read more...
RX Africa and Messe Muenchen India join forces to strengthen business platforms in Africa
RX Africa
News
Messe Muenchen India has announced a strategic partnership with RX Africa to strengthen the scale, reach and market impact of its premier co-located trade fairs, analytica Lab Africa and IFAT Africa, ahead of their 2027 editions.
Read more...
printer friendly version