The Hisense factory in Atlantis, Western Cape, is located in a Special Economic Zone.
Image: Jason Boud
Hisense South Africa has reaffirmed its commitment to local production and manufacturing at the Buy Local Summit & Expo, which took place at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg this week.
The event, hosted by Proudly South African, brought together policymakers, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors to discuss the future of South Africa’s manufacturing sector and the importance of supporting locally produced goods, a statement said Wednesday.
The summit attracted over 1,600 delegates, 200 exhibitors, government ministers, entrepreneurs, investors, and funders. A key session was a matchmaking platform connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with established companies. At the summit, Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Alexandra Abrahams highlighted the urgent need to strengthen local industry amid global economic pressures.
Hisense SA’s directors said that as one of the country’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, its participation in the summit underscored their long-standing investment in local manufacturing and industrial development.
Since entering the South African market in 1996, Hisense has steadily expanded its footprint through local production, job creation, and technology investment.
Central to this strategy is the company’s R350 million manufacturing facility in Atlantis, Western Cape, opened in 2013 and which produces televisions and home appliances for local and export markets. Located within the Atlantis Special Economic Zone, the facility has become a critical hub for technology manufacturing on the African continent.
The factory can produce up to one million televisions and 500,000 refrigerators annually, supplying the domestic market while exporting products to countries across the African region and beyond.
“Local production is not simply a business strategy for Hisense; it is a long-term commitment to South Africa’s economic development,” said Luna Nortje, deputy GM at Hisense South Africa.
“Through our Atlantis manufacturing facility, we are able to combine global technology with local skills and talent, creating high-quality products while supporting job creation, supplier development, skill transfers, and industrial growth,” said Nortje.
Beyond manufacturing, Hisense SA’s local strategy includes investment in skills development and youth employment initiatives, including learnership programs designed to equip young South Africans with practical experience in advanced manufacturing environments.
“At a time when global supply chains are under pressure and local industries face increasing competition, events like the Buy Local Summit & Expo play an important role in strengthening collaboration between government, business, and local manufacturers,” Nortje said.
BUSINESS REPORT