The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Sacci) and the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) on March 5 held an executive session, under the theme 'Activating Strategic Partnerships ahead of the Gauteng Investment Conference 2026'.

A range of speakers spoke comprehensively on Gauteng’s investment potential, highlighting the considerations, opportunities and challenges in the province, and also outlined their organisations and how they were positioned to advance funding in the region and assist businesses and projects.

Sacci CEO Alan Mukoki pointed out that tackling the country’s triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment was a primary agenda of business, for “selfish” purposes, as solving this would also allow them to grow.

Further to enabling business to thrive, mitigating these challenges would allow South Africa to progress from a developing country to a developed one, he averred.

Mukoki said the approach to addressing this must be guided by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the country’s National Development Plan.

He also emphasised the importance of dealing with the root causes of issues.

Mukoki underlined the need to address crime, as this hampered investment, with people being wary of directing funds to locations that were unsafe or perceived as such, and/or relocating to such regions.

He posited that five professions – accountants, actuaries, bankers, engineers and economists – were pivotal to running the economy and deciding if capital was invested.

Mukoki highlighted the need to build the requisite skillset for this locally.

Speaking on the topic of investor support services, GGDA Invest SA senior director Marcus Baliso encouraged investment in Gauteng, highlighting that the province boasted a good infrastructure base, despite water issues; was a good emerging marketing; had a global cost advantage compared to peers; was strategically positioned for many global players looking to trade in Africa; had a good governance system; had good established sectors, with potential for new sectors to thrive; and provided favourable access to African markets.

He also added that the city and country was relatively safe, in what is now a time of heightened geopolitical tensions.

He said the GGDA was positioned to help business looking to invest and/or grow in Gauteng, with a mandate to accelerate sustainable growth and development in the province through several support services.

Baliso pointed out that the GGDA was already providing support, and had capacity to bolster this, for the high-growth sectors of energy, transportation and logistics, manufacturing, information and communications technology and digital services, tourism and hospitality, agroprocessing and agriculture, construction and infrastructure, automotive, aerospace and defence, financial services and pharmaceuticals.

The organisation is also able to leverage its subsidiaries to support businesses and projects, and also has special economic development corridors in Gauteng, with more slated to become operational.

Baliso also highlighted the GGDA’s InvestSA One Stop Shops, implemented since 2017. These aim to simplify investment processes by providing a centralised hub for government services, permits and business registrations.

Speaking on the economic and investment landscape was economic expert Kgotso Radira, who described the outlook as more positive at present, despite the recent risks owing to geopolitical issues.

Despite shocks and uncertainty, businesses were dynamic and had the ability to weather them, he pointed out.

Radira pointed out that trade data showed that this persisted during challenging times, evidenced by industry remaining stable when high US tariffs were imposed, when activity abounded nonetheless in emerging markets.

He said this was expected to continue, despite the risks.

Looking to the whole of South Africa, Radira said growth was starting to pick up; there were gains in reforms with Operation Vulindlela progressing; the country had been removed from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list; and its credit rating had improved.

He indicated that growth was expected to continue picking up further, albeit before taking into consideration the risks that materialised in the past few weeks. “This is positive, as it is growth on top of growth, and we can only build on this.”

Radira also pointed out that there was increased investment in the country, with indications that this would be furthered, and that foreign direct investment was flowing, including into Gauteng, with the real estate, business and financial services sectors, and others, benefitting.

Speaking on support for market access, trade missions and engagements with foreign missions, Department of International Relations and Cooperation trade and investment promotion director Palesa Rachidi highlighted the entity’s work to enable South African businesses to achieve their export and investment objectives.

In the absence of Foreign Economic Representatives deployed by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), Embassy officials are expected to act as intermediaries between the country and host countries to promote South Africa’s economic interests. They must also focus on fostering international trade, investment and economic cooperation between South African and the host countries.

In terms of trade promotion and facilitation, this entailed work in enabling market access, facilitating trade missions, networking  support and assisting with trade agreements, she pointed out.

In terms of investment promotion, this entailed work in attracting foreign investment, supporting domestic investors aboard and providing investment protection.

In terms of economic analysis and reporting, work entailed market intelligence, policy recommendations and economic forecasts.

In terms of diplomatic and legal support, work entailed conflict resolution, support for nationals and advice on trade laws and regulations.

In terms of development of economic cooperation, work entailed enabling bilateral economic relationships, providing technical assistance and assisting with economic integration.

dtic senior manager Donald Mabusela spoke on government incentives for business expansion and investment facilitation.

He said the dtic offered entrenched investment schemes, which had been available to business for a while. Mabusela highlighted that there were a variety of schemes, with almost 20 schemes and sub-schemes available, each of which had their own specific guidelines and qualifying criteria.

The offering was on a cost sharing basis, with co-funding highlighted as essential.

Support is for new establishments, expansion projects and/or upgrading of existing business.

These are geared more towards sectors such as manufacturing, productive or industrial sectors.