Urban Investment Partnership Conference in Johannesburg
The National Treasury and the Department of Co-operative Governance in collaboration with the Development Bank of Southern Africa will co-host the Urban Investment Partnership Conference on the 27 to 28 August 2015 at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The Conference will bring together senior officials from cities, national departments and investors to lay a foundation for deeper partnerships for inclusive urban growth.
The 2015 Budget highlights the critical role of cities in facilitating faster and more inclusive economic growth for South Africa. The National Development Plan notes that South Africa’s large cities host a significant proportion of all national economic activity and, with ongoing patterns of urbanisation, they are home to an increasing proportion of the population. Substantial public and private investment in urban areas is required in the next decade and beyond to meet the growing needs of cities to provide residential, commercial and industrial space, and the infrastructure and services that boost the national economy.
To achieve inclusive growth and spatial transformation, a stronger partnership between the private and public sector is required. At a national level, this means focussing the ongoing dialogue between investors, cities and government on urban development strategies, plans and programmes. At a city level, it requires strengthening the interest from the private sector to invest in urban space and encouraging a detailed city-specific dialogue on investment opportunities.
Discussions at the Conference will be focused on finding practical approaches to reducing obstacles for the active participation of all stakeholders in urban development along three main themes:
- Strategy and key issues for effective urban investment: Highlighting existing challenges for different stakeholders in urban investment for growth, stakeholders will prioritise key issues that require collaboration and that need to be addressed in the course of the Conference and beyond to unlock growth.
- Towards a new approach to urban investment: Stakeholders will identify practical solutions and innovative approaches to improve urban investment, which catalyses inclusive economic growth and spatial transformation. Mechanisms to crowd in investment and successful approaches in other countries will guide discussions on the future of urban development investment in South Africa.
- Cities’ urban development strategies: Cities will demonstrate their urban development strategies, priorities for urban investment and examples of investment opportunities for developers and financiers.
The intention of the Conference is to indicate a significant shift in the strategy for urban development management and financing by identifying opportunities for strategic and regular engagements between investors, cities, and government to accelerate urban investment that boosts economic growth and spatial transformation in South Africa.
For more information:
Tsakani Baloyi
Cell: 082 052 0892
E-mail: sheilab@cogta.gov.za
National Treasury
For more information contact
Xolisa Dodo
Cell: 076 012 8152
E-mail: Xolisa.Dodo@treasury.gov.za or Media@treasury.gov.za
