Dear Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology,

I write to you as coordinator of the 2020 Brand Summit Africa, which will be hosted in Cape town during the first week of June 2020.

This annual event was established in late 2016 and got inaugurated in May 2018. Respected South African Chief Justice Mogoeng-Mogoeng delivered the first keynote address; he was followed by the equally respected South African Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu at the 2019 brand summit, held in Sandton. Respected Pan-Africanist, Kenyan Professor Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba (PLO), will deliver the keynote address in 2020.

As you will see in the 2018 report, attached, other influencers included the several other influencers in media, business, civil society, destination marketing, academia, etc., and they came from as far afield as Nigeria, Namibia, Cameroon, Benin, Ethiopia, Russia, USA, India, Hungary, Switzerland, Canada, UK, Hungary, and Bulgaria among others.

Below are 1) The 2020 Brand Summit Africa First Announcement, published in late 2019, 2) The latest article on the speaker/panelist line-up for the 2020 Brand Summit Africa published on 6th February 2020, and 3) An article announcing the participation of the Russian city of Yekaterinburg (Ural region) at the summit. The Finnish city of Espoo will also send a delegation. Also invited are Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), the South African Cities Network, Abuja (Nigeria), Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), and Greater Accra (Ghana)

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/82/196486.html

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/82/200417.html

https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/82/196982.html

Below are other highlights:
1. Some media coverage: https://www.sabrandsummit.co.za/media/
2. An informative interview: https://buff.ly/2Pteacd
3. https://www.bizcommunity.com/Article/196/18/193527.html
4. https://www.bizcommunity.com/PressOffice/PressRelease.aspx?i=413591&ai=192747
5. https://www.fin24.com/Opinion/solly-moeng-sa-should-be-grabbing-a-slice-of-the-business-tourism-pie-20190703-3
6. A videoclip summary of the 2019 brand summit: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10157648917789314&id=685409313&sfnsn=mo

The overriding themes in 2020 will be:
1. The Food value chain space. Africa remains a net importer of food crops when it has, potentially, all the basics it needs to become a net exporter. Where are we getting it wrong? Who are the key sector players, from established and emerging farmers, to government bodies, agro-processors, retailers, transporters, industry associations, etc., and what role should they be playing? What more should provincial, national, and continental policy-makers be doing to enhance this sector?
2. Education. What investment in policies and training is needed to help equip (South) African economies with the right skills for a sustainable future? What are the key challenges and how can they be overcome?
3. How is food security linked to social justice? And how does lack of it stand in the way of creating a happier society, more at peace and happier ambassadors of South Africa, Africa?

The Higher Education, Science and Technology Portfolio Committee is responsible for oversight of the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Education is one of our 2020 Brand Summit Africa themes. As such, we would like the committee to consider sending representatives to share its stories in any of these thematic areas.

Please let us know if this is something you’d be interested in. Also, please feel free to let us know if you need additional information from us to help you make a decision. Further information can also be obtained from our website at www.sabrandsummit.co.za

Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Warm Regards,


Joy Marjawar
Event Co-ordinator
Brand Summit Africa