​Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Provincial Government has reaffirmed its support for the agro-processing sector through the inaugural Gauteng Agro-processing Convention and Expo, which kicked off on Thursday, 3 July 2025 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand.
Under the theme: "Driving inclusive growth through agro-processing," the two-day conference has brought together industry leaders, SMMEs, financiers, investors, and policymakers to shape the future of agro-processing in the province.
Government has been deliberating on how to position the province as a leading agro-processing hub in South Africa, with a strong focus on innovation, enterprise development, and investment opportunities.
Addressing the audience, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vuyiswa Ramokgopa, said that agro processing contributes between 5% and 7% of the country's manufacturing. 
"Our view is that it has a high growth potential. We have a number of the biggest agro-processing companies based in Gauteng."
Ramokgopa said the province was well-positioned to unlock market access.
"We see the potential both because we have the industrial base and in terms of our logistics, we are well placed in terms of national and in terms of exporting to SADC countries.
"Currently, fresh produce comes into Gauteng to be processed, then goes back out, which is why Gauteng accounts for 35% of the continent's agro-processed product, which is quite a significant industry."
She acknowledged that the government has not done enough "to support this industry, to fund this industry, and most importantly to ensure, as we grow, that growth is inclusive and includes your micro-processors from the townships right up to the big businesses."
The event features high-level panel discussions, deal-making opportunities, and an expo showcasing cutting-edge products, technologies, and success stories from across the agro-processing value chain.
She called on industry players to think systematically and collaborate.
"We must move from fragmented into integrated value chains, from policy and missions to practical implementation from isolated initiatives to institutionalized partnerships we are here to discuss and unpack the structural challenges."
This, she said, hinders access to entry for township agro processes and small-scale farmers and producers.
The expo will help the Gauteng government to reach the following objectives:
Reviewing a decade of public and private sector interventions to identify successes, address challenges, and accelerate sector growth.
Strengthening partnerships across government, business, and civil society to drive transformation and scale.
Defining a unified roadmap for agro-processing development in Gauteng.