The City of Tshwane’s multiparty coalition government has approved the Tshwane Economic Development Agency’s (TEDA’s) new business plan, which seeks to improve investment facilitation for the capital city, reversing several years of declining investment.

“More investment means more jobs for our residents and faster growth of our economy. Investment, growth and jobs is what we want TEDA to help us achieve,” Economic Development and Spatial Planning MMC Councillor Sarah Mabotsa said on July 11.

TEDA is an entity owned by the City of Tshwane. The agency has aligned its 2025/26 business plan with the council-approved mandate. The service delivery agreement approved by the council requires the TEDA to act as a strategic vehicle for accelerated growth and economic development in the city.

“Unfortunately, under the previous political administration, TEDA’s annual reports confirm that investment facilitation had significantly declined over the last several years.

“The value of investment facilitation at R4.3-billion in 2018/19, declined to R3.4-billion in 2021/22, declined further down to R2.8-billion in 2022/23, and, in the last year of the previous administration, declined further to an estimated R1.7-billion,” Mabotsa said.

She said that, to grow the economy and create jobs, a refocused effort on new accelerated investment was essential.

“TEDA’s new business plan has set new targets to stabilise and rapidly increase investment facilitation,” she explained.

Therefore, a target of R2-billion worth of investment facilitation has been set for the coming year, climbing to R4-billion, R4.5-billion and R5-billion each year for the 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 fiscal years, respectively.

As TEDA’s 2025/26 business plan notes, the vision of TEDA is to be the main driver for attracting and facilitating investment into the City of Tshwane.

The business plan for the 2025/26 financial year focuses on TEDA’s role in promoting trade and attracting investment into the City of Tshwane, with targets having been set linking this role to investment and trade enhancement.

One example of the changes to focus effort on real economic growth is identifying new trade and investment opportunities.

“To facilitate more trade opportunities for existing Tshwane companies and to facilitate investment into Tshwane from new companies, TEDA’s target for trade and investment events has been doubled.

“Trade and investment events have now also been linked to specific targets for qualified investment or trade leads to ensure there are real returns for Tshwane businesses and our economy.

“This work to identify new markets and new investors is becoming increasingly important due to the impacts of shifting global tariff policies,” Mabotsa explained.

TEDA’s business plan also aligns with the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy.

“This business plan speaks to TEDA’s role in promoting trade and attracting investment into the City of Tshwane and assisting with the realisation of the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy.

“The Economic Revitalisation Strategy is our roadmap to adding 8 000 new jobs, bringing in R17-billion in new investments and increasing economic growth to at least 3.9% by 2029,” Mabotsa said.