By Johnathan Paoli
Gauteng aims to attract R800 billion in investment pledges over the next three years, according to finance and economic development MEC Lebogang Maile.
He was speaking the pre-launch of the Gauteng Investment Conference at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on Thursday. The conference will take place in April.
Maile emphasised that Gauteng remained a prime global investment destination, solidifying its status through continuous engagement with international stakeholders.
“The Gauteng Investment Conference has various linked objectives that are all geared towards the developmental agenda not only of the province but of the region,” he said.
Recently, the MEC led a delegation from the province to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he reaffirmed Gauteng’s role in the global economic and geopolitical landscape.
The province’s selection as the host of the G20 Summit in November 2025 further underscored its importance as an economic powerhouse, marking the first time the intergovernmental forum would convene on African soil.
Maile said investment conference was designed to advance the province’s developmental agenda by attracting large-scale investments and driving economic transformation.
While it aimed to attract R800 billion in investment pledges over the next three years, the initial target was R300 billion.
“While this might sound like an insurmountable target, we are confident in the investment potential of the province, as well as the existence and further development of the infrastructure that is necessary to convince the global investor community of our capacity,” he said.
The conference is structured around seven core objectives to drive economic momentum.
They include highlighting investment opportunities in advanced manufacturing, the digital economy and other key growth sectors, and providing a platform for public-private partnerships, networking opportunities and regional collaborations that drive economic expansion.
It will also address barriers to doing business in Gauteng, enhance investor confidence and attract both new ventures and business expansions.
Maile emphasised the importance of expanding Gauteng’s global investment reach while ensuring economic growth benefited the broader region and continent.
“We look forward to welcoming local, regional and global businesses who are keen to develop a lasting and mutually beneficial partnership anchored on values of inclusivity and sustainable development,” he said.
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