Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile on Tuesday officially launched the ramp-up to the Gauteng Investment Conference, to be held on April 9, to attract investment into South Africa’s most populous province.

The 2026 edition of the Gauteng Investment Conference aims to build on the momentum of its inaugural conference last year, elevating its model to unlock R200-billion in investment and fortify Gauteng’s standing as the top sub-national investment destination in Africa, a status characterised by credibility, project preparedness and execution.

The 2025 conference, through the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency, secured R312.5-billion in pledges, with 28% of the commitments converted into active implementation during the year, unlocking R73-billion through 17 of the 60 projects being rolled out.

Maile said during the launch at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange that the inaugural conference demonstrated Gauteng’s ability to attract investment and build trust with investors.

“One of the biggest outcomes was the wide range of commitments across sectors that matter to our province, from agroprocessing and transport infrastructure to property development and aviation; we expect these pledges to collectively support over 114 000 jobs and create significant economic opportunities for the people.”

In 2025, it was demonstrated that Gauteng can mobilise capital, while in 2026, the aim is to show that the province can successfully convert capital into projects, accelerate delivery and convert intent into implementation, while creating jobs and growing its economy.

The 2026 edition of the conference strongly focuses on pledge-to-project conversion, aftercare and on-the-ground delivery, with ambitions of securing another R200-billion in investment.

“This target is not aspirational. It is pipeline-backed and supported by structured engagement with investors, development finance institutions and sector leaders,” said Maile, noting that structured, bankable catalytic projects, aligned to corridor-based development, all supported by feasibility studies, regulatory alignment and institutional banking support, will be showcased.

“We seek to showcase high-growth sectors that align with global and continental trends, including advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, electric vehicle value chains, digital infrastructure, logistics, agroprocessing, green hydrogen and financial services, to strengthen collaboration with both local and international partners.”

He further highlighted that the Gauteng Investment Conference serves as a catalyst – not just an additional initiative – as it is a platform that integrates project preparation, investor engagement, intergovernmental coordination and capital mobilisation across strategic pillars, and brings visibility, structure and accountability to the provincial investment pipeline.

“In short, the Gauteng Investment Conference 2026 aims to strengthen the entire investment lifecycle, and building on the momentum of 2025, we are institutionalising marketing, origination, facilitation and delivery.

“We are also placing municipalities at the centre of this model, as urban planning, infrastructure approvals and special coordination largely sit at local level. For investment to flow at scale, municipalities must therefore be active partners in project preparation and execution,” he said.