South Africa will host the 2026 Annual SADC Industrialisation Week from July 27 to 31, 2026, at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition announced on Monday, July 6.
The event, organised in collaboration with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Business Council and the SADC Secretariat, will bring together policymakers, business leaders, investors, researchers, development finance institutions and other stakeholders to promote industrial development across the region.
Held under the theme “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World,” the programme will serve as a lead-up event to the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The week-long forum will focus on strengthening regional value chains in sectors including agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and critical minerals, while promoting infrastructure development, investment partnerships, innovation, youth and women empowerment, and digital transformation.
South Africa said the Industrialisation Week supports the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap (2015–2063), which seeks to enhance regional production capacity, deepen value addition and promote competitive industries across member states.
As current Chair of SADC, South Africa said it remains committed to advancing regional industrialisation, job creation, economic growth and shared prosperity.