Now in its fourth year, and themed, “unleashing #full potential”, the conference aims to showcase opportunities for black-owned, small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) operating in the agriculture, manufacturing, engineering, logistics and fleet management sectors.
“The annual CCBSA Supplier Development Conference provides a platform for SMMEs to network with industry stakeholders, creates numerous opportunities for them to enter the supply chain of participating corporates. We hope that we can provide better understanding of our business and our value chain, to attract black owned, black women owned and black empowered businesses and start-ups that can provide us with a range of services”, said CCBSA Managing Director, Velaphi Ratshefola.
The company believes that business in SA can make a difference by opening itself to different suppliers. “We need to have the will to do things differently and appetite to help build new businesses. It is not business as usual. Where we can, we need to nurture the dreams and ambitions of countless business people, particularly youth and women, to inculcate a spirit on entrepreneurship. And this cannot be done without commitment and financial support,” said Busi Thusi, Head of Procurement Transformation at CCBSA. “Our event slogan #UnleashingFullPotential sums up the objectives of the conference; job creation, creating and presenting opportunities to small businesses and helping to help the country achieve its transformation agenda”.
This year’s conference will attract approximately 1200 delegates, consisting of entrepreneurs, small business owners, corporate delegates, representatives from government and members of the media.
“We are looking to onboard black and black women owned and transformed suppliers in packaging, manufacturing, engineering, fleet maintenance, logistics, agriculture and professional business services,” says Thusi.
The CCBSA Supplier Development Conference includes an exhibition of over 100 high quality SMMEs, handpicked from CCBSA’s Supplier Development Programme. The conference will also create a platform to recognise entrepreneurs who have done well in their respective areas. Delegates can look forward to local success stories, including, Siyabulela Xuza, a South African energy-engineering expert and entrepreneur with a passion for clean affordable energy. Xuza has had the prestigious honour of
having a minor planet named after him in recognition of his innovation in homemade rocket fuel.
According to Ratshefola, hosting an event of this nature is about being an active partner in South Africa’s socio-economic development, both in the growth of the local beverage sector, but the country as a whole. It’s all about creating shared opportunity,” she adds. “When large organisations such as ours benefit from reliable suppliers, jobs are created in communities where there weren’t any before, and the needs of both our consumers and shareholders are met. Investing in SMME development can only contribute towards a sustainable future of SA. It has been proven in other countries”.
