South Africa’s Sixth Investment Conference opens in Johannesburg on Tuesday, with President Cyril Ramaphosa expected launch the country’s second investment drive targeting R2 trillion (about $116 billion) over the next five years.
The gathering at the Sandton Convention Centre marks a pivotal moment in South Africa’s investment mobilisation efforts, which began in 2018 when Ramaphosa set an initial goal of attracting R1.2 trillion in new investment.
That target was surpassed last year, with R1.5 trillion in commitments secured across five conferences and more than R600 billion already invested in projects ranging from manufacturing and mining to energy and logistics.
Government officials say this year’s conference, co‑hosted with the International Finance Corporation, is designed to demonstrate that structural reforms are beginning to gain traction.
Over 1,000 delegates will be presented with evidence of progress in areas such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure and industrial expansion, reflecting what officials describe as a shift “from promise to performance”.
The 2026 edition also introduces a more targeted approach to investment mobilisation, linking commitments directly to projects and measurable outcomes.
The conference theme, “Invest. Partner. Prosper.”, underscores a narrative of an economy in motion, supported by improvements in energy reliability, logistics performance and regulatory reform.
South Africa is positioning itself as a competitive, reform‑oriented economy anchored in what officials call the “3Ds” — digitisation, decarbonisation and diversification.
Investments in broadband, fintech and artificial intelligence are strengthening its role as a digital gateway to the continent, while large‑scale renewable energy and green hydrogen initiatives signal growing momentum in the energy transition.
The country’s diversified industrial base and its status as home to more than 180 Fortune Global 500 companies remain central to its pitch to investors.
JN/APA