Cape Town’s role is to bring its strengths to the table, connect with investors and businesses, and help strengthen South Africa’s overall investment proposition.
That was the message as the City of Cape Town’s Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, officially opened the Johannesburg Stock Exchange trading floor earlier this month as part of the Cape Town Built for Business campaign.
“Opening the JSE trading floor and sounding the opening horn was honestly a bit of a dream come true for me. I’ve always seen that moment as one of the great symbols of South Africa’s economy in motion. To have the opportunity to sound that horn and officially open the trading floor was a real career highlight, but more importantly, it was a powerful reminder of why we do this work, to connect Cape Town’s businesses and opportunities with investors and markets,” said Vos.
Economic growth
It was part and parcel of a roadshow that brought together investors, businesses and sector partners to explore opportunities across technology, tourism, BPO, green energy, marine manufacturing, clothing and textiles and other high-growth industries. Key partners included Wesgro, GreenCape, CapeBPO, UVU Africa, Atlantis Special Economic Zone and Cape Town Tourism.
Vos said the City’s approach is deliberately sector-focused, with Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) used to bring industry expertise and targeted interventions into the City’s economic growth programme.
“For me, economic growth cannot just be a broad programme with a long list of activities. It needs to be focused on the sectors where Cape Town has a competitive advantage and where we can unlock business expansion, investment and job creation. That is why we work with industry-led Special Purpose Vehicles. They understand their sectors from the inside, they know where the opportunities and constraints are, and they help us make sure our interventions are practical and targeted.”
The impact of this approach is already evident, according to Vos. During the 2025-’26 financial year, projects delivered through the City’s SPV partnerships contributed to R18.9 billion in investment and the creation of 15 948 direct jobs across key growth sectors.
“These numbers show why this model matters. Government does not always have all the answers, but by working with industry specialists, we can identify opportunities faster, remove barriers and put the right support behind businesses and sectors that are ready to grow. Ultimately, it is about creating the conditions for businesses to expand and for more people to access jobs.”
Not competing with other cities
The delegation then travelled to Durban for engagements with businesses across various sectors and a visit to Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport to learn from its operations and explore opportunities for collaboration.
The roadshow also showcased the City’s new Manufacturing Support Policy, Business Support Policy and Ease of Doing Business Index, all aimed at making it easier for businesses to invest, operate and grow in Cape Town.
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“This is not about competing with other South African cities. It is about complementing one another and, together, strengthening South Africa’s proposition to the world. A stronger Cape Town contributes to a stronger South Africa, and we have a responsibility to bring our strengths, our businesses and our investment opportunities to the table,” said Vos.
The Cape Town Built for Business campaign aims to roll out across more than 60 cities worldwide positioning Cape Town as a place where businesses can invest, grow and create jobs.
