- The Western Cape Investment Summit, 5 – 7 November, will bring together business leaders, investors, policymakers to accelerate growth and investment.
- The Western Cape has already proven what’s possible when planning, infrastructure, and sound governance work in sync. The challenge now is to scale this success and extend its impact.
- Wesgro has produced the Guide to Doing Business in Cape Town and the Western Cape. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of the province’s investment landscape, including step-by-step guidance on establishing a business in South Africa.
- The Western Cape Investment Summit will connect opportunity with capability, align ambition with action, and shape a shared growth agenda.
From 5 to 7 November, the inaugural Western Cape Investment Summit will bring together business leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners to align the province’s strengths with strategies that drive sustainable growth and position the Western Cape as a hub for both national and global investment.
South Africa’s future depends on how effectively the public and private sectors collaborate to accelerate growth and investment. Growth creates jobs, strengthens competitiveness, and builds confidence in the economy. Achieving this requires more than statements of intent, it demands coordinated action and a shared commitment to unlocking opportunity.
This November, under the theme “Catalysing Growth, Connecting Opportunities,” the Western Cape will demonstrate that commitment. Organised by the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Summit is not only a platform for presenting opportunities in Cape Town and the Western Cape, but also a national and international forum for building a more connected, competitive economy. It aims to align public and private sector priorities, attract investment into high-potential sectors, and showcase how regional collaboration can anchor long-term growth. The Western Cape has already proven what’s possible when planning, infrastructure, and sound governance work in sync. The challenge now is to scale this success and extend its impact.
Scale and Opportunity
To guide investors during this landmark week, Wesgro has produced the Guide to Doing Business in Cape Town and the Western Cape. This publication provides a comprehensive overview of the province’s investment landscape, from step-by-step guidance on establishing a business in South Africa to insights into the regulatory and tax environment, labour market trends, and productivity benchmarks. It also includes up-to-date data on the cost of living, utilities, and commercial real estate, along with details on investment incentives offered by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and the City of Cape Town. Additionally, it highlights the Western Cape’s strong market access through regional and international trade agreements. In this way, the guide is more than an informational resource - it’s a strategic tool for investors seeking clarity, confidence, and competitive advantage in the Western Cape.
And there is good reason for this confidence. The Western Cape contributes 14% of South Africa’s GDP with just 11% of the population, a testament to its productivity, fiscal discipline, and strong governance. Known for clean audits and efficient delivery, the province continues to inspire investor trust. The private sector is responding and driving a diversified, future-focused economy. Beyond its global reputation for wine and tourism, the province has become Africa’s innovation hub, leading in renewable energy, fintech, biotech, and space technology. Anchored by world-class universities such as UCT and Stellenbosch, and celebrated as one of Africa’s most visited cities and top business events destination, Cape Town offers a rare blend of talent, lifestyle, and opportunity, a place where global investors live, work, and play.
Connectivity and Infrastructure
Connectivity is a defining advantage for the Western Cape. Six international subsea cable landing stations link the province directly to global data networks, while major data centres have chosen the region, cementing its position as Africa’s leading technology hub. This digital landscape underpins growth in business services, e-commerce, fintech, and global business process outsourcing, enabling innovation and competitiveness at scale.
Infrastructure lies at the heart of the province’s growth story. More than R120 billion is currently being invested in infrastructure - transforming the region into one of Africa’s most reliable and connected places to do business. Cape Town International Airport consistently ranks among the world’s best, and the ports of Cape Town, Saldanha Bay, and Mossel Bay serve as vital gateways for international trade. Ongoing investment in infrastructure signals confidence. Roads, education and energy infrastructure don’t just support economic activity; they inspire businesses to expand, upskill employees, and innovate. The ripple effect of these investments translates regional development into national momentum.
Guiding Investors and Building Partnerships
Leveraging these strengths towards realising inclusive and sustainable inclusive economic growth is Wesgro’s mission. We connect ideas, partners, and opportunities, as we strengthen competitiveness and support job creation in the province. That is why to support investment facilitation efforts at the upcoming Summit, we have developed a suite of sector-focused content, covering sectors such as Food and Beverages, Green Economy, Green Manufacturing, Life Sciences & Health, Logistics, and Services, along with CEO Guides on key themes including water, solar, circular economy, education, and logistics. These resources equip investors and decision-makers with practical insights, grounded in data, to inform real-world investment decisions.
Globally, successful regions share common traits: clear vision, institutional stability, and coordinated action. That ambition lies at the heart of the Western Cape Investment Summit, to connect opportunity with capability, align ambition with action, and shape a shared growth agenda. The Summit is more than a showcase of sectors; it’s a platform to build consensus around a strategy that strengthens South Africa’s competitiveness and nurtures confidence in the economy’s future.
Stander is CEO of Wesgro, the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape.
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*This article was first published by Cape Business News.