INVESTING IN THE MOTHER CITY
In 2020, in spite of Covid-19, the Cape Town economy proved to be resilient and ever-expanding, driving investment into what is arguably the most successful city centre in South Africa. Coupled with this are the myriad other reasons why Cape Town is an excellent investment destination. LOCATION
Cape Town is situated in the Western Cape, home to some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. The Western Cape has an abundance of natural assets, including world-renowned coastlines, the iconic Table Mountain National Park and Kirstenbosch National Botanic Garden and an abundance of orchards and vineyards. The province is also one of the most lucrative in the country, with established industries including tourism and agriculture, and is an inspiring industrial hub. This has encouraged a shift of certain economic activities to the Cape, enticing foreign firms and inviting new investment. Four top universities, including the University of Cape Town, and two globally recognised regional business schools, attract innovation and talent. These institutions have boosted Cape Town’s status as the leader in African BPO (business process outsourcing) innovation and fields like business process management have been leading creators of jobs in Cape Town.
ACCESSIBILITY Air Access
C ape Town International Airport (CTIA) is Africa’s third largest airport and considered to be the best on the continent. L ocated 20 km from the Central City, CTIA is integrated with other city transport infrastructures. T he R7 billion upgrading and expansion of the CTIA, involving the refurbishment of the domestic and international terminals, and the construction of a new realigned runway worth R3.93 billion, will allow CTIA to accommodate larger aircraft and increase its per-hour landings and departures. A ir passenger movements, impacted by Covid-19 travel bans and restrictions, continue to improve on a quarter-onquarter basis. In Q3 of 2020, CTIA recorded 322 929 more passenger movements compared to the previous quarter.
Port Access
he Port of Cape Town, the T second busiest in South Africa, is strategically positioned and serves
cargoes (especially containers) moving between Europe or the Americas and the Middle East or Australia. Expansion is planned to allow it to accommodate larger vessels and an increase in annual throughput. The port also facilitates a growing cruise economy; a multi-millionrand Cruise Terminal at the V&A Waterfront opened in May 2018.
Road Access
Cape Town and the Western Cape are linked to the other provinces of South Africa by two major road networks, the N1 and the N2.
A HUB OF OPPORTUNITY
Home to the leading convention centre in Africa, the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the city is experiencing a tangible shift to a service-driven economy with an established business culture and a cluster of trusted financial institutions. There is huge confidence in the soundness of banks in the region, rated third in the world by the World Economic Forum.
ECONOMY & INFRASTRUCTURE ape Town, a sub-Saharan African C business hub, is an ideal destination for industry and innovation. In Q3 of 2020, the Western Cape accounted for R408 billion of the R2.96 trillion GDP generated by South Africa. During this period, the WC economy grew by 57.7 %, quarter-on-quarter, driven by the manufacturing and trade sectors and mirroring the national trend. Cape Town’s service-driven economy has grown at a higher rate than the national average thanks to its competitive advantage in key industries and sectors, including manufacturing sub-sectors such as
