Johannesburg, South Africa – Sasol is proud to be a sponsor of the 6th Annual Proudly SA Buy Local Summit and Expo. Taking place on 3 & 4^th April 2017, Sasol will use the platform to showcase and create networking opportunities for some of its SMME support recipients. A proudly South African company, Sasol has for more than 65 years played an important role in the industrialisation growth and socio-economic development of South Africa. Our locally-produced products have and continue to play an important role in the birth of new industries and the growth of established ones, creating jobs and contributing to social and economic development.

“Sasol understands that as a large corporation, we serve a higher purpose than just running our business profitably,” said Justice Magagula, Vice President: Sasol Social Investment at Sasol Limited.

“We are aware of the vital role a growing small, medium and micro-sized enterprise (SMME) sector plays in broadening economic participation and delivering on our country's economic development objectives, which include job creation. This is why enterprise and supplier development is such a strong focus of our Social Investment strategy.”

Sasol provides through its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme a diverse range of support, both financial and non-financial. Through the Sasol Siyakha Enterprise and Supplier Development Fund, Sasol is also assisting SMME suppliers to become sustainable. The aim is to create viable enterprises that can play meaningful economic roles in the communities Sasol operates in, such as create jobs and develop particularly scarce skills.

“It is important for Sasol to ensure that our economic and social development contribution is effective,” said Magagula.

“Hence, we have adopted a focused multi-pronged approach to supporting existing and potential SMME suppliers that comprises giving financial and non-financial solutions. We want to diversity of our supplier pool, enable access to market opportunities within our value chain and those of other large corporations, and enhance community development and contribute more meaningfully to the development of thriving local economies,” said Magagula.

An estimated 500 delegates are expected to take part in this year’s Proudly SA Buy Local Summit and Expo. Supporting this event is one of the ways Sasol is demonstrating its commitment to socio-economic development.