Small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs), procurement and supply chain professionals from the public and private sectors are gathering at the annual Smart Procurement World (SPW) Indaba and ESD Expo on 19 – 20 September 2017 at Gallagher Estate.
Smart Procurement World, supported by the City of Johannesburg, hosts this world-class conference and expo, with this year’s theme aimed at exploring how unleashing the power of procurement to drive radical economic transformation could be beneficial to emerging businesses to ensure their sustainability.
Honourable Barbara Creecy, MEC for Finance, Gauteng Provincial Treasury; Leah Knott, City of Joburg’s MMC for Economic Development and dti’s Director-General, Lionel October are among the speakers who will address the delegates. Their participation will cement the support these departments offer to SMMEs as they play a pivotal role in driving South Africa’s economic agenda.
MEC Creecy will give the keynote address on procurement as a strategic tool in the hands of government – governments have realised that procurement can be utilised to achieve social objectives. MMC Knott’s address will focus on how should organisations, both public and private, embrace social procurement; practically roll out sustainable inclusive growth initiatives without interrupting service delivery. Lionel October, will address the delegates on utilising procurement as a lever for the dti’s Strategic Partnership Programme – a key instrument in building capability and capacity of suppliers in the supply chain.
“Empowering small business, particularly black SMMEs, is essential if we are to transform and grow the economy. SPW and its partners not only provide a platform for procurement heads from the private and public sectors to network, keep abreast of global trends and best practice; but provides a platform for entrepreneurs to network, explore opportunities and engage meaningfully with procurement decision makers with the aim of securing new business,” says Debbie Tagg, COO Smart Procurement World.
Co-located with the conference is the ESD expo which aims to support the business case for Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives in South Africa. SPW and its partners have seen an estimated 30% of exhibiting SMMEs secure new contracts through supplier matching sessions and networking among other.
SPW and its partners look forward to hosting this world class event and encourage small business owners, corporates and the public to support the ESD expo open day on 20 September – an opportunity for the public to walk the exhibition floor.