Government is ready to host the sixth edition of the South Africa Investment Conference next week, Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau said on Monday.
“South Africa is open, South Africa is ready, and South Africa is an investment destination of choice,” Tau said.
Addressing the media in Pretoria on the state of readiness for the conference, Tau said more than 31 countries representing international delegates are making their way to South Africa.
“Their growing interest to participate in the 6th South Africa Investment Conference is an illustration that the world sees us as a gateway to Africa, and the ideal place to invest and partner with a developing country that is shaping the world we live in.”
Tau explained that the South Africa Investment Conference was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2018 with the mandate to mobilise both domestic and foreign investment at scale and to translate that investment into jobs, growth, and opportunity for the nation’s people.
“The first five-year investment drive, which ran from 2018 to 2023, was an unqualified success by any measure. South Africa secured R1.56 trillion in investment pledges, surpassing the Presidency's original target by 26%.
“That achievement was not by accident, it was the product of deliberate partnerships, disciplined engagement, and a government that chose to be open for business,” Tau said.
He added that 2024 was a reset moment and that 2025 was the year of implementing the diversification strategy known as the Butterly strategy.
“This strategy enabled us to explore various markets, sell South Africa to the world, and ensure that South Africa is open for business.”
Tau said the first cycle built the framework of trust and partnership, and that the new cycle is about translating pledges into implementation, which demonstrates economic growth and jobs.
“We live in a world of competing demands for capital. Every nation is making the case for why it deserves investor attention. We are making ours not with promises alone, but with proof,” he said.
The country’s ambition is grounded in three pillars, namely:
• Invest — South Africa offers compelling, high-return sectors backed by policy certainty and strategic infrastructure.
• Partner — South Africa believes in shared ownership of economic outcomes between government, business, and communities.
• Prosper — The country is committed to ensuring that investment translates into tangible prosperity for all South Africans.
Following the evidence
“We are not asking investors to take a leap of faith. We are inviting them to follow the evidence,” he said.
Tau said the country offers a technology sector that is primed for exponential growth, a world-class renewable energy opportunity, and an agro-processing and food security sector with vast untapped potential.
He added that the country has a stable constitutional democracy, an independent judiciary, and a regulatory environment committed to investor protection.
“South Africa is not just a destination — it is a gateway to a continent of 1.4 billion people. The opportunity is real, and it is now,” he said.
The Minister said the country is on track to host the conference on 31 March.
“We are proud to report that almost every key milestone has been met,” he said.
Mobilising sponsors to fund the conference, attracting both domestic and international investors, and mobilising the investor committee to support the project pipeline capture in the National Investment Book were among the milestones mentioned by the Minister.
The upcoming summit builds on the success of the previous five-year investment cycle, which concluded in March 2023, after raising R1.51 trillion, surpassing the initial R1.2 trillion target.
To date, more than R600 billion of these commitments have flowed into projects, supporting the establishment of new factories, mines, and other productive facilities across the country.
Announcing the conference during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Cyril Ramaphosa said government was determined to build on this momentum.
READ | Government to host sixth Investment Conference in Johannesburg
The 2026 conference aims to reinforce a clear narrative to investors: credible reforms drive investor confidence, unlock deployable opportunities, and foster sustainable global partnerships.
Since its launch, the conference has drawn thousands of local and international delegates, positioning South Africa as a competitive and globally relevant investment destination. An estimated 1 250 delegates are expected to attend the 2026 edition in person. – SAnews.gov.za
