If you type “Wesgro” into the search bar of your internet browser, dozens of articles pop up, the headlines of which all have the word “billion” in them. That’s billions of rand Wesgro is attracting to the Western Cape.

As the official Tourism & Trade, Investment Promotion Agency for Cape Town and the Western Cape, Wesgro recently announced that it has delivered an estimated R10.25-billion economic boost to the City of Cape Town and the province during the 2017/18 financial year, expected to create more than 7900 full time and part time jobs. This is contained in its annual report presented recently to the provincial parliament.

Wesgro CEO Tim Harris says achieving this was not easy, especially looking at the credit ratings downgrades, coupled with the worst drought on record, to hit the Cape. It meant that the agency had to do even more in a constrained economic environment.

But as they say, never let a good crisis go to waste, and Harris and his team certainly didn’t let grass grow under their feet, performing above expectations in the year under review.

“Our international trade promotion unit facilitated the signing of 53 business agreements with an estimated economic value of R2.83bn over the next five years as well as outward foreign direct investment projects valued at R190m. Increased efforts from the unit to work closely with bigger exporters in the province resulted in an exceptional export declaration to the value of R1.8bn for Vinimark Trading based in Stellenbosch. The company is the largest independent specialist wine wholesale company in South Africa, covering all aspects of distributing, marketing, exporting and importing of foreign and domestic wines.”

With regard to international export destinations, the Far East continued to show growth as did the African market. Harris says the agency is on track to meet its long-term goal of becoming Africa’s financial and trade hub.

The investment promotion unit realised committed investments worth R2.29bn, while the dedicated agribusiness unit helped land committed investments in its sector amounting to R756m off the back of six investments.

This investment in the agri-sector comes at a crucial time, and is expected to create more than 1400 jobs over the next five years.

The agency’s air-access strategy, to create direct links with other countries, is also beginning to bear fruit. In just three years, this initiative has helped land 13 new routes and 18 route expansions, adding an additional 750,000 inbound seats to Cape Town International Airport. These additional passengers have contributed an estimated R6bn to the Western Cape economy.

Congratulations to the team at Wesgro, who are doing their utmost to grow the provincial economy!

The City of Cape Town is celebrating after being crowned ‘Africa’s Leading Festival and Event Destination’ at the Africa and Indian Ocean edition of the 2018 World Travel Awards. What’s more, we’ve now been nominated to be recognised as the World’s leading events destination, and the winner will be announced in Portugal on 1 December.
The Mother City is competing with many other amazing cities, including London, Montreal, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Danang (Vietnam) and Guayaquil (Ecuador).
But we are in a very good position as we have already proven our mettle with a wide range of events held here recently.
Signature festivals and events hosted in the city include: the Cape Town International Film Market and Festival; the HSBC Rugby Sevens, which generates revenue of about R700 million for the City; the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon, which was crowned the Participation Event of the Year (2018); the Volvo Ocean Race, which contributed about R500 million and 35 000 bed nights to the city’s economy in 2017; the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which creates more than 2 000 temporary jobs and attracts in excess of 37 000 music lovers over the 2 show days; and the iconic Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Eight of the signature events supported by the City contribute more than R3 billion to the local economy and create more than 20 000 temporary jobs.
Outgoing Mayor Patricia De Lille has urged all residents and event organisers to vote for the City to become not just Africa’s, but the World’s best events destination.
The world’s top event organisers agree that the Mother City has what it takes to win this award. This is what some of them have to say about our world class City:
Billy Domingo, Cape Town International Jazz Festival director
‘There are many things that make the Cape Town International Jazz Festival an award-winning, world-famous event, but something that is often overlooked is the crucial supporting infrastructure and communitive ethos of our host city, and the impression Cape Town leaves on global visitors. Africa’s Grandest Gathering was born out of this ethos, and today attracts over 35 000 visitors from South African and aboard. Our visitors not only come to Cape Town to enjoy the exceptional music on offer, but also to explore the beauty of the Mother City and its surroundings. It comes as no surprise that our city is once again being acknowledged as the events capital of the world, a title that is greatly deserved and will continue to contribute to the wonderful attributes that make Cape Town the friendly, exciting and warm place that it is.’
Kevin Vermaak, founder of the Absa Cape Epic
‘The 2018 Cape Epic was the 15th edition of the race, and we are incredibly proud to start the race on the slopes of Table Mountain, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. It provides an iconic South African backdrop for the first day of the Epic. From there, the route will wind 658 km through the beauty of Robertson, Worcester and Wellington, before the finish at the Val de Vie estate in the Paarl-Franschoek valley. The trails of the region have had much to do with the fact the Cape Epic is regarded as the premier mountain bike stage race in the world. We have been called the Tour de France of mountain biking, and have set standards for mountain bike events around the world. The excellence of the trails, the infrastructure and the people who build new routes and maintain them each and every year are the lifeblood of our sport.’
Paul Bellamy, managing director of World RallyCross for IMG
‘We have found the perfect match in Africa to host our final round of the World Championship: Cape Town is a desirable international tourist destination and we’ve had tremendous support from both the City of Cape Town and Killarney International Raceway. The track backdrop of Table Mountain as One of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, the heritage, world-class track and facilities at Killarney will be the ideal setting for our World Championship season-closer in Cape Town.’
Janet Welham, organiser of the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon
‘We are so blessed to call Cape Town our home. The Sanlam Cape Town Marathon proudly hosted Africa’s only IAAF GOLD Label status marathon. With the ongoing support of the City, Western Province Athletics, our sponsors and partners and with Cape Town being one of the world’s top tourism destinations, we believe that in time to come the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will become one of the world’s “must run” destination marathons.’
CEO, Jay Douwes, CEO of Cape Town Carnival
‘A spectacular socially transformative event like the Cape Town Carnival relies on receptive and supportive engagement with our host city. Safely accommodating massive crowds in public open space is a credit to our beautiful tourist friendly city and provides an opportunity for locals and tourists to experience and enjoy South African community, culture and creativity.’
Irene Ochem, Founder and CEO, Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF)
‘Cape Town is one of the world’s favourite tourist destinations and the number one convention city in Africa. It has a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem with global dimensions, and it is only natural that an organization such as AWIEF would want to position itself to be part of that global community in order to promote its pan-African agenda.’
Sugen Pillay, commercial director for Reed Exhibitions, organisers of Africa Travel Week
‘The feedback from international buyers and attendees is absolutely positive. The buyers are always impressed with what Cape Town has to offer. Many of them haven’t been to the continent before. When they come here they sample the destination, and then the business happens. We bring in new buyers every year. The products have been amazing, the service levels excellent and the hospitality world-class. We do a lot of research before a show. When we started off, over 90% of buyers requested for the show to be in Cape Town. It would be foolish of us to move it to another destination. Every year we ask the same question and get the same response. The city is doing something right to attract these buyers. Cape Town is known as a premier tourism destination globally. The city is the positioning factor for South Africa globally.’
To vote for Cape Town to win the award ‘World’s Leading Festival & Events Destination’, visit the World Travel Awards website: https://www.worldtravelawards.com/award-worlds-leading-festival-and-event-destination-2018