eThekwini Municipality and the Durban Chemicals Cluster will host the continent’s largest chemicals manufacturing event focussed on driving chemicals manufacturing growth and trade. The fourth African Chemicals Imbizo 2018 takes place on 24 October 2018 at the Durban ICC.

It will strengthen ties between chemicals producers and customers across the continent through an investment and growth focussed conference, an exhibition showcasing chemicals products and innovations, and most notably, the buyer-supplier linkage meetings. The International Trade Centre’s export potential indicator identified that the chemicals sector is the second largest local manufacturing sector in Durban (behind automotive) in terms of untapped export potential at R19,18bn.

The role of the African Chemicals Imbizo in opening up African investment and trade opportunities for local chemicals producers with the ensuing benefit to local job creation amongst other benefits is therefore pivotal.

This year sees 20 high priority African trade partners who are looking to purchase and trade in a variety of different chemicals products attending the event. “The African Chemicals Imbizo is a milestone event in promoting trade between African countries. At present all we seem to do is run to Asia for all products and requirements.

We are extremely grateful for a chance to visit and further trade with partners we may form during our visit" states Mr Deep Shah from Super Manufacturers who will visit from Kenya.

Wood treatment chemicals, leather beamhouse chemical, bisurfactants, lubricant grease, dishwashing paste, degreaser

The African Chemicals Imbizo conference programme also hosts an impressive line-up of speakers including Jaco Maritz (CEO of How We Made It In Africa), Gavin Dalgleish (Managing Director of Illovo Sugar Group), Nicole Martens (Head of Africa and Middle East, UN Principles for Responsible Investment), Dr Justin Barnes (Chairman of B&M Analysts) and Claire Janisch (CEO of Biomimicry SA). The programme includes breakaway sessions on Industry 4.0, Green Manufacturing, Health and Safety and Legal Compliance in addition to the primary focus on policy, strategy and investment and growth in chemicals manufacturing.

The African Chemicals Imbizo is supported by event partners eThekwini Municipality, Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal, the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority, National Cleaner Production Centre and the Chemical and Allied Industries’ Association.

More information can be found at www.durbanchemcialscluster.org.za