Supplier Development Starts Before Training — The Human Side of Building Capability
Everyone talks about supplier development. Companies announce programs, allocate budgets, deliver training. Reports are filed. Success is declared. Yet most of these programs fail to create lasting change. With 15 years of procurement experience across Europe and Africa, we’ve come to believe the problem isn’t budget or commitment. It’s sequence. Most programs start in the […]
Local Content: Beyond Compliance — From Quotas to Capability
Why Local content requirements often fail to create real economic value, and what procurement practices can actually build local supplier capability ? Walk into any discussion about extractive industries in resource-rich countries, and local content will come up within minutes. It’s become a standard feature of mining codes, petroleum agreements, and partnership frameworks across Africa […]
Critical Minerals: The Procurement Question Everyone’s Missing
The critical minerals conversation has never been louder. Governments are crafting strategies. Companies are securing supply chains. International partnerships are being announced. The energy transition has made minerals like lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earths strategically essential. But in all this conversation, something fundamental is often missing: the procurement practices that determine how value actually […]
When Procurement Becomes Geopolitics
Observations on MDBs, geographic eligibility, and the future of EU-Africa partnerships Something is shifting in how the European Union approaches development partnerships. After attending recent policy discussions in Brussels on Global Gateway and multilateral development banks, one message came through clearly: the old rules no longer apply. Business as usual is gone. Developing as usual […]
Strengthening Connections and Driving Impact at the African CEO Forum in Abidjan
Last week, STROPCIM had the pleasure of joining the African CEO Forum in Abidjan—a premier platform that brings together influential leaders shaping the future of Africa’s economy. It was a powerful opportunity to engage with senior stakeholders, thought leaders, and innovators who are actively contributing to the continent’s growth and transformation. Beyond the forum itself, […]
South Africa’s G20 Presidency: A Vision for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth
The South African Embassy to Belgium and the EU is delighted to announce that South Africa will preside over the G20 from November 2024 to December 2025. This significant period will conclude with a handover to the USA in 2026. STROPCIM was very pleased to attend this event to actively working to enhance procurement and […]
