The City of Cape Town has unveiled an AI investment concierge. The goal of the concierge is to help drive global investment.

“The campaign is about creating meaningful partnerships and ensuring Cape Town remains part of global investment conversations.”

Cape Town unveils AI investment concierge

Investors looking to do business in Cape Town now have a new digital guide at their fingertips. The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, James Vos, has launched Maya, an AI-powered investment concierge designed to make it faster and easier for businesses from around the world to invest in the Mother City.

“The City’s James Vos says Maya is an example of practical innovation in government.”

Vos added that they were looking for something practical and responsive that could answer questions immediately, guide investors and connect them with the right people. He says innovation in government doesn’t need to be complicated. He said, “It simply needs to solve real problems, save people time and make it easier to do business.”

A new digital guide at their fingertips

He says Maya’s launch formed part of the City’s new global investment positioning campaign, Cape Town. Built for Business. He says the international initiative will showcase Cape Town as Africa’s leading business destination while highlighting the practical reforms the City has introduced to create a more competitive investment environment.

The international initiative

Speaking at the launch, Alderman Vos said attracting investment is about far more than promoting Cape Town’s natural beauty. He added, “The world already knows Cape Town as one of the world’s great tourism destinations. This campaign tells another side of our story – that Cape Town is also a city where businesses can invest, innovate, grow and create jobs.”

Vos added, “This is about opening doors, building relationships and making sure Cape Town is part of investment conversations wherever they are happening.”

What you need to know about Maya

• Maya is available 24 hours a day in eight languages, including Afrikaans and isiXhosa.
• It’s a single-entry point into Cape Town’s investment ecosystem. This will help investors navigate municipal processes, identify opportunities, access business support programmes and connect with City officials. At the same time, it will also provide information on industry bodies and Special Purpose Vehicles.
• The name was inspired by Maia from Greek mythology. This is a figure associated with growth and new beginnings. It’s a fitting name for a platform designed to help transform investment ideas into successful businesses.
• It was developed by the Economic Growth Directorate’s Economic Development and Investment Department.