PROCUREMENT, TENDERS & SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE

It is common knowledge now that some African countries, like Lesotho and Madagascar, have been specifically targeted with tariffs as high as 50 percent, a development that threatens to destabilise their economies, which are heavily reliant on exports to the US, leading to job losses and decreased public revenues. South Africa – whose economy also relies on car and agricultural exports to the US – has also seen its relationship with the north American country undergo some strain. The potential imposition of tariffs on these exports could render South African vehicles less competitive, jeopardizing thousands of jobs and potentially prompting manufacturers to reconsider their production bases. Beyond the continent, there are reports from the USA that – because of the ongoing tariff dispute between the two countries – organisations are stalling on ordering Christmas related products, leaving Chinese producers in the lurch on what happens next. Much of the global logistics infrastructure that moves goods around the world is built on stable regulations and assumptions; and sudden changes along the value chain that are not well thought out can have unexpected and unwanted consequences. This is because many organisations have no ability to absorb tariff costs – which have been raised to as high as 245 percent and will result in higher prices. And if organisations are unable to absorb these costs, they will be forced to increase prices, which will diminish the purchasing power of the average consumer, worsen inflationary pressures, and reduce overall demand. Trade disagreements significantly impact procurement and supply chains by increasing costs through tariffs, disrupting supply chains, and forcing businesses to re-evaluate sourcing strategies. Procurement and supply chain professionals must adapt to these changes, sometimes through finding alternative suppliers, mitigating risks, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. With the world global supply chain at such crossroads, procurement and supply chain professionals in Africa have an opportunity; especially with trading blocs with which they do business at a time when the rules to help with strategic sourcing decisions are unclear. The Procurement, Tenders & Supply Chain Conference will offer these answers and more to industry stakeholders. Set for the 17th until the 19th of September 2025 in Johannesburg, the event will provide a home for procurement and supply chain professionals at all levels to practically address the critical and evolving challenges they face and be inspired by stories of excellence. Topics to be discussed will include: • Sustainability and green procurement: Integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into all stages of the supply chain, including ethical sourcing, reducing emissions, and implementing circular economy principles. • Digitalisation and technology: Leveraging technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT to improve efficiency, transparency, and collaboration within the supply chain. • Supply chain resilience and risk management: Identifying and mitigating risks related to natural disasters, geopolitical instability, supplier bankruptcy, and cybersecurity threats. • Supplier management: Building strong supplier relationships, promoting supplier diversity, and leveraging supplier performance data to optimize supply chains.• Global trade dynamics and geopolitical policies: Understanding the impact of global trade wars, tariffs, and other geopolitical factors on supply chains and adapting strategies accordingly. • Data analytics and forecasting: Using big data and advanced analytics to improve demand forecasting, inventory management, and supply chain planning. • Cybersecurity: Protecting supply chains from cyberattacks and ensuring the security of data and systems Delegates will learn from pioneering case studies, ask meaningful questions in Q&As and join the conversation in panel discussions and workshops. Our experts will lead insights into the exploration of groundbreaking strategies to transform the continent’s supply chain and procurement landscape. The Procurement, Tenders and Supply Chain Conference will showcase cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions that can redefine supply chain connectivity, foster collaboration, and unlock Africa’s immense potential; as well as help procurement and supply chain professionals as they participate in business operations that have a bearing on supply chains, such as sales forecasting, quality management, strategy development, customer service, and systems analysis.

• Stay updated on the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in procurement and supply chain management. Learn about emerging technologies transforming supply chains, understand regulatory changes, sustainability practices, and risk management strategies. • Connect with industry experts, procurement leaders, and supply chain professionals, build relationships with suppliers, vendors, and potential partners, engage in discussions with peers to exchange ideas and solutions to common challenges. • Benchmark your organisation’s procurement and supply chain practices against industry standards, identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiency improvements. • Develop strategies for supply chain resilience in times of disruption (e.g., geopolitical risks, pandemics). • Learn about green procurement, circular economy practices, and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) compliance and understand how to implement ethical sourcing and supplier diversity programs. • Understand how to classify third party goods and services based on supply risk and value of spend. • Determine the procurement strategy choices available for a given opportunity. • Plan and manage a competitive tender process from A to Z: Create an appropriate evaluation methodology to judge bids and tenders and handle the outcomes from a competitive bid process • Identify, assess, and make proposals on how to manage procurement risks. • Evaluate vendor proposals from a technical and commercial perspective. • Get practical insights on preparing for and conducting professional negotiations with suppliers.

EMPERORS PALACE CONVENTION CENTRE, JOHANNESBURG

DAY 1 17 SEPTEMBER 2025 09:00 Africa and the challenge of strengthening the resilience of international supply chains 10:30 Mid-Morning Break 11:00 Moving towards a sustainable and resilient world: The role of supply chain in achieving sustainability goals for organisations 12:30 LUNCH 13:30 Empowering Tomorrow: The Role of People in Procurement 14:30 From suppliers to strategic partners: Unlocking innovation through collaboration 16:00 Closing Remarks; Day 1 Closes DAY 2 18 SEPTEMBER 2025 08:20 Opening Remarks 08:30 Procurement in the public sector: Best Practices in Tender Procedures 09:30 Managing the Technical and Commercial Evaluation 10:30 Mid-Morning Break 11:00 Supply Chains, Procurement and Contracts management 12:00 Managing the Contract Award and Initialization Stage 13:00 LUNCH 14:00 Procurement Nightmares: Learning from others’ mistakes before they become yours 15:00 The CPO as a shaper of the future 16:30 Closing Remarks; Day 2 Closes DAY 3 19 SEPTEMBER 2025 08:20 Opening Remarks 08:30 Procurement 2.0 and the digital transformation journey in supply chain: The digital advantage that will define your future 09:30 Beyond the Hype: Why AI as a real game-changer for procurement 10:30 LUNCH 11:00 Cybersecurity Resilience in Supply Chains: Advanced Strategies for Securing Logistics Network in Africa 12:00 Redefining the Procurement and supply chain landscape of the future: Investigating where opportunities and challenges lie for African supply chains 13:00 Closing Remarks; LUNCH; Conference Closes