The Gauteng Provincial Government has successfully positioned the province as Africa’s premier investment destination through the inaugural Gauteng Investment Conference (GIC), held at the Marriott Hotel, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg.
The conference, officially launched at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in February 2025, has surpassed its initial target of securing R300 billion in investment pledges, achieving an outstanding R312.5 billion.
The Gauteng Provincial Government, under Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s leadership, is driving an ambitious economic transformation agenda to attract R800 billion in investment over the next five years. This conference catalysed foreign and domestic investments in key sectors, reinforcing Gauteng’s position as South Africa’s economic powerhouse and a strategic gateway to the continent.
Gauteng contributes 33.2% of South Africa’s GDP and remains the largest provincial economy in the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The province also accounts for 7% of Africa’s total GDP, solidifying its position as a global economic player. With its strong industrial base, advanced infrastructure, and strategic geographic location, Gauteng is the anchor of South Africa’s economic growth and innovation.
The Gauteng Provincial Government has identified high-growth sectors as critical drivers for sustainable economic development. Key investment pledges have been secured across 60 projects in 15 sectors, including:
- Agro-processing – R22.7 billion
- Manufacturing – R15.3 billion
- ICT – R80.7 billion
- Transport & Logistics – R39.7 billion
- Energy – R4.9 billion
- Automotive – R9.8 billion
- Property Development – R123.7 billion
- Additional pledges in Mining, Health, Retail, Aviation, and Water & Sanitation
These investments align with the Gauteng Growing Together 2030 (GGT 2030) Plan, which focuses on economic recovery, transformation, and industrialisation. The province aims to foster SMME development through Sector Plans, encourage skills training, and support innovation across industries.
The Gauteng Investment Conference attracted over 300 investors worldwide, reflecting global confidence in Gauteng’s economic future. Investment pledges were secured from multiple regions, including:
- South Africa – R179 billion
- United States of America – R51.4 billion
- United Kingdom – R30 billion
- European Union – R2.8 billion (France & Estonia)
- China – R2 billion
- India – R4.9 billion
- Pakistan – R5 billion
- Australia – R1.8 billion
- Switzerland – R650 million
- Multinational companies – R34.7 billion
The conference showcased 117 public-sector projects valued at R239 billion, focusing on energy, logistics, digital technology, housing, and manufacturing. These initiatives are expected to create over 114,852 jobs, strengthening Gauteng’s socio-economic landscape and reinforcing the province’s commitment to inclusive economic growth.
The provincial government further reinforced its commitment to a conducive business environment by ensuring good governance and anti-corruption measures to build investor confidence, streamlining licensing and registration processes to enhance ease of doing business, investing in infrastructure across power, transport, water, sanitation, and telecommunications, and supporting research and development to drive innovation and industry growth.
The Gauteng Investment Conference marks the beginning of a new era of high-impact investments, ensuring that Gauteng remains the heartbeat of Africa’s economy. With a clear vision, strong partnerships, and unwavering commitment to development, the province is poised to achieve its ambitious R800 billion investment target within the next five years.