Marking 30 years of operations in South Africa this year, consumer electronics manufacturer Hisense South Africa, participated in the fourteenth Buy Local Summit & Expo and reflected on its ongoing investment in local manufacturing and industrial development.

The event was held at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, on March 16 and 17.

Hisense South Africa entered the local market in 1996 and has since expanded its footprint through local production, job creation and technology investment.

Deputy GM Luna Nortje explained that central to its business strategy is the company’s R350-million manufacturing facility in Atlantis, in the Western Cape, which produces televisions and home appliances for local and export markets.

Located within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, the facility serves as a hub for technology manufacturing on the continent.

Nortje confirmed that the factory has the capacity to produce up to one-million televisions and 500 000 refrigerators a year, supplying the domestic market while exporting to countries across Africa and beyond. Local production supports reduced reliance on imports and strengthens South Africa’s position as a regional production base for consumer electronics.

“Local production is a long-term commitment to South Africa’s economic development. The Atlantis facility combines global technology with local skills, supporting supplier development, skills transfer and industrial growth,” she said.

Beyond manufacturing, the company’s strategy includes investment in skills development and youth employment initiatives, including learnership programmes aimed at providing practical experience in advanced manufacturing environments.

Nortje added that collaboration between government, business and manufacturers remains important as global supply chains face pressure and local industries encounter increasing competition.

Hisense South Africa was one of the many industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs and investors that were brought together by the event to discuss the future of South Africa’s manufacturing sector.

Hosted by Proudly South African, the two-day summit attracted more than 1 600 delegates, according to the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition. A key session included a business matchmaking platform connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with established companies across industries.

Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams addressed the summit, highlighting the need to strengthen local industry amid global economic pressures.