The City of Cape Town is hosting the Cape Town Manufacturing Summit 2026 today, 11 November, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. During the summit, the City will outline its new Manufacturing Support Policy, which aims to strengthen the city’s 33 industrial areas and unlock investment and jobs.
The summit forms part of a busy few months for business support in the Mother City. Council recently approved a new Business Support Policy for small businesses, and the City has reported that its red tape reforms are cutting approval times across several services.
Here’s what’s been announced, and what it means for small businesses in Cape Town.
Manufacturers, Investors and Policymakers Meet at the CTICC
The summit is organised by Manufacturing Indaba as part of its national manufacturing initiative. It brings together manufacturers, investors, policymakers, technology providers and industry leaders. Discussions cover industrial growth, innovation, automation, skills development, sustainability, exports and the competitiveness of local businesses.
Cape Town’s manufacturing sector produces clothing and textiles, catamarans, food and drinks, automotive components, electronics, medical devices and green energy solutions, including battery storage. Manufacturers, entrepreneurs and investors are encouraged to attend, and registration is open online.
The new Manufacturing Support Policy focuses on making the city’s 33 industrial areas work well for the businesses based there. According to Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, the City wants to understand the challenges manufacturers face, improve the business environment and work with the private sector to unlock investment and expansion.
“Ultimately, we want our industrial areas firing on all cylinders,” he said.
Council Approves New Business Support Policy
Council has given the go-ahead for a new Business Support Policy aimed at entrepreneurs and small, micro and medium enterprises. It replaces the 2018 version, which led to the creation of the City’s Business Hub.
Approval followed a public participation process from 15 June to 15 July 2026. The City received more than 160 comments from residents, business owners, incubators, chambers of commerce, NGOs, government departments and economic development practitioners.
The City pointed out that small businesses account for just over 40% of formal sector jobs in South Africa, well below the global average of close to 70%. Helping them survive and grow is seen as key to tackling unemployment.
The policy’s main deliverables are expanded business support and skills development, better access to business infrastructure, economic development across the whole city, stronger partnerships between support organisations, and workforce development.
The Business Hub will remain at the centre of this work. In 2026 alone, more than 5 800 businesses took part in Hub programmes covering procurement readiness, supplier development, tender training, pricing, marketing, export readiness and market access.
Businesses can contact the Hub on 021 417 4043.
City Reports Faster Approvals for Businesses
The City has also announced that it has completed 51 reform actions across nine business-facing services since 2022, as part of its goal to make Cape Town the easiest place in Africa to do business.
Average wayleave approval times have dropped from about 40 days to six. Median business licence turnaround times have fallen from 44 days in July to September 2025 to 18 days in April to June 2026. Other reforms are simplifying informal trading permits, electricity and water connections, revenue clearance certificates and development applications.
Through the City’s Stupid Rule initiative, staff have made more than 1 500 submissions identifying rules and processes that could be simplified or removed. The City’s latest Business Satisfaction Survey recorded an overall Public Service Quality score of 92, up from 86 in 2023/24.
The City acknowledges there’s still work to do on land use applications, building plan approvals and public land transfers.
Find Out What’s Available for Your Business
Small business owners can contact the Business Hub to find out which programmes and support services fit their needs. Manufacturers can follow updates from today’s summit as the Manufacturing Support Policy is rolled out.
Want more customers to find your business? List it on BOOST Cape Town and browse local suppliers in categories like Business & Legal Services and Construction & Specialty Trades.
