“MANUFACTURING remains key priority for Cape Town’s economic landscape.”

These were the words of James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, during his opening speech at the inaugural Cape Town Manufacturing Summit held at the City Hall this week.

The event, jointly hosted by the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government, was attended by business and industry leaders, government officials, and investors.

“This summit is about ensuring our industrial areas remain productive and competitive. These zones are the engine rooms of our economy, where jobs are created, where goods are produced, and where value is added. This is the gift that keeps on giving, and we must do everything we can to keep it thriving,’ said Alderman Vos.

Approximately 337 000 people are employed in the province’s manufacturing sector, according to the latest Stats SA jobs report.

Manufacturing is the third-largest contributor to the Western Cape economy, with the bulk of activity based in Cape Town, according to Wesgro. The city is a leader in food and beverage processing, clothing and textiles (Cape Town produced 105 million garments in 2024, nearly a third of the country’s total), electronics, medical devices, and marine-based goods, such as catamarans.