For businesses looking to grow, the right connection can lead to a new customer, supplier, investor, partner or market.

On 11 November 2026, the Cape Town Manufacturing Summit will bring together manufacturers, investors, policymakers, technology providers, financial institutions and business leaders at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) to explore the opportunities shaping the Western Cape’s manufacturing economy.

Held under the theme “Manufacturing the Cape. Connecting Africa. Competing Globally,” the Summit is designed to give delegates more than industry insights. It provides a platform to make connections, identify opportunities, exchange knowledge and engage directly with the stakeholders driving manufacturing growth.

More than a conference – a platform for opportunity

Cape Town and the broader Western Cape have established themselves as an important manufacturing and investment hub, with capabilities spanning advanced manufacturing, agro-processing, marine manufacturing, aerospace, renewable-energy components, green technologies and digital manufacturing.

For businesses operating across these sectors, the ability to understand market developments and connect with the right people is increasingly important.  The Cape Town Manufacturing Summit brings these conversations together in one room.

“Being at the Cape Town Manufacturing Summit means being closer to the opportunities shaping the sector. Whether you are looking for new customers, suppliers, investment, partnerships or simply a better understanding of where the market is going, the value is in being part of the conversation,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director of Manufacturing Indaba.

“Cape Town has a strong and diverse manufacturing ecosystem, and there is significant potential to connect that capability to opportunities across Africa and global markets. The Summit creates a space for those conversations to happen, bringing the right businesses, decision-makers, investors and industry experts together in one room.”

What can delegates gain?

The Summit provides businesses with an opportunity to:

Discover new markets and opportunities – Gain insight into emerging areas of growth across manufacturing, investment, technology and exports.

Build strategic connections – Engage with manufacturers, investors, policymakers, suppliers, technology providers and other key stakeholders across the value chain.

Identify potential customers and partners – Use the Summit as a platform to establish relationships that can develop into commercial opportunities, partnerships and new business.

Stay informed on industry developments – Hear from experts and decision-makers on the trends, policies, technologies and initiatives influencing the future of manufacturing.

Explore investment opportunities – Understand where investment is taking place and how businesses can position themselves to participate in Cape Town and the Western Cape’s growth.

Connect local capability to African and global markets – Explore how Cape Town’s manufacturing strengths can contribute to a more connected and competitive African industrial economy.

Positioning Cape Town for growth

The Summit takes place at a time when the Western Cape is strengthening its position across sectors including renewable energy, green manufacturing, advanced manufacturing and export-oriented industries.

The province has a growing renewable-energy manufacturing ecosystem, while initiatives such as the Atlantis Special Economic Zone and developments in green technologies are creating further opportunities for investment, industrial development and job creation.

For manufacturers, investors and businesses across the supply chain, these developments present opportunities but accessing them requires collaboration and connectivity.

The Cape Town Manufacturing Summit provides a platform for that engagement.

Be part of the conversation

The manufacturing sector is evolving rapidly, and businesses that understand where the opportunities are and build relationships with the people driving them will be better positioned to respond.

The Cape Town Manufacturing Summit invites manufacturers, investors, business leaders, technology providers, policymakers, exporters and industry stakeholders to be part of a day focused on connections, knowledge and commercial opportunity.