Standard Bank is pleased to announce its role as Headline Sponsor of the 2026 Buy Local Summit & Expo, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to strengthening the domestic economy through localisation and SME empowerment.
South Africa’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of the country’s economic resilience, driving innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth. As South Africa continues to navigate evolving market conditions, strengthening local capacity and supporting home‑grown industries has become increasingly important than ever.
Against this backdrop, Standard Bank’s partnership with Proudly South African on the 2026 Buy Local Summit & Expo highlights the bank’s longstanding focus on localisation and procurement from South African suppliers, both essential strategies for boosting the domestic economy and enabling entrepreneurs to start, manage, and grow thriving businesses, even in uncertain conditions.
Hosted annually by Proudly South African, the Buy Local Summit & Expo is a premier platform that showcases local businesses, fosters collaboration, and highlights the importance of supporting homegrown enterprises. This year’s event comes as South Africa enters 2026 with renewed economic momentum, with President Cyril Ramaphosa recently noting that the country is “on the cusp of achieving rapid growth for the first time in almost 20 years”, following several quarters of steady gross domestic product (GDP) improvement. Against this backdrop, strengthening local industries and deepening domestic value chains remain essential to sustaining this upward trajectory, aligning closely with the conference theme of Localisation: ‘A Critical Imperative to the Economy’.
“As a trusted partner for growth for many SMEs, Standard Bank recognises that these businesses are amongst those that continue to carry the South African economy”, says Naledzani Mosomane, Head of Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) at Business & Commercial Banking, Standard Bank South Africa. “Localisation and the increased use of South African suppliers help strengthen these businesses and ensures that more value is retained within the domestic economy.
“Whether these businesses are starting, managing, or growing enterprises that promote local production, Standard Bank Enterprise and Supplier Development is there with them every step of the way.”
“The Buy Local Summit & Expo is continuing to evolve and remain a space where thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and policymakers can discuss and debate the future of South Africa’s productive sectors,” says Eustace Mashimbye, Chief Executive Officer of Proudly South African. “We are pleased to have Standard Bank on board as a headline sponsor, and we appreciate the value that partners like Standard Bank, who are forward-thinking and committed to growth, can add to initiatives that promote local capabilities, enhance participation in local value chains, and ultimately enable South African businesses to compete and thrive in a dynamic and ever-changing world.”
The two-day Summit & Expo will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to engage on critical issues facing SMEs, including access to finance, innovation, and market opportunities.
Beyond networking, it also offers workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions designed to equip SMEs with practical skills and knowledge to address challenges such as scaling sustainably, navigating procurement processes, and leveraging innovation to remain competitive. The collaborative environment ensures that entrepreneurs leave with actionable insights and stronger connections.
“More than just an annual gathering, platforms like the Buy Local Summit & Expo serve as a catalyst for transformation in helping businesses unlock new opportunities, empowering SMEs to succeed in dynamic environments and positioning them as the driving force of South Africa’s economic resilience. By promoting localisation, strengthening supply chains, and creating market access opportunities, Standard Bank, Proudly South African, and the many other partners behind this year’s Summit & Expo ensure that local businesses are equipped to grow,” concludes Mosomane.
Campfire Mama
Tshego Sefolo and Londeka Shezi from Agile Capital – In 2015, after 13 years in the investment industry, Tshego Sefolo went to the market to raise hundreds of millions to launch his own private equity firm, Agile Capital. It took him and his business partner Londeka Shezi, less than a year to secure the investment, for not one, but two private equity firms. Londeka Shezi, is a director at Agile Capital, but her journey started when she completed her articles with Pricewaterhouse Coopers in 2009. She then joined Standard Bank where she worked in the Leverage and Acquisitions team, and went on to become a senior associate at Zico Group.