Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis Advocates for Increased US Investment in Cape Town

Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis is on a mission in the United States to promote the Mother City as a prime destination for American investment. The objective of Hill-Lewis's visit is clear: to catalyze economic growth for Cape Town by securing more foreign direct investment (FDI) from the largest economy in the world. The United States already takes the lead as the most considerable FDI source for Cape Town, with heavyweight companies like Microsoft, Roche, and Amazon paving the way with substantial investments.

In his address to the US Chamber of Commerce, Hill-Lewis outlined the reasons that make Cape Town stand out as a city ripe for business opportunities. He underscored Cape Town’s strategic infrastructure investments, which complement its burgeoning job market and vibrant information and communications technology (ICT) and tourism sectors. These areas, he pointed out, are outstripping the growth rates of similar sectors in other South African cities.

Cape Town has also been witnessing record-breaking tourist arrivals, a sector that plays a significant role in the city’s economy. Hill-Lewis's pitch to US investors included the city’s achievements in creating a business-friendly environment, particularly in energy security and the ease of administrative procedures for starting and operating a business.

Key economic reforms were also on the agenda during the mayor's presentations. Among the initiatives mentioned were plans for the city to take over operational control of the passenger rail service, a move that would dramatically improve public transportation. Hill-Lewis also highlighted efforts towards the formal devolution of more policing powers—a measure expected to enhance safety and security in the city, thereby increasing its appeal to potential investors and visitors alike.

Partnerships with the private sector in the management of the Port of Cape Town is yet another critical economic reform on Hill-Lewis’s list. Such measures are indicative of the city’s commitment to engage collaboratively with various stakeholders to unlock economic potential.

Amid his economic and investment-focused talks, the mayor is traversing an itinerary that includes addressing urbanisation challenges at the Woodrow Wilson Centre, as well as advocating for further US involvement in regional economic development through the Corporate Council on Africa.

This tour forms part of a broader international engagement that sees the Cape Town mayor sharing the success stories of Cape Town and drawing lessons from it for the future of South African and other African cities. His next stop will be London, where meetings with Mayor Sadiq Khan and the South African Chamber of Commerce UK are scheduled. Significantly, at the London School of Economics, Mayor Hill-Lewis will deliver a speech titled ‘City of Hope: Lessons from Cape Town for the Future of South Africa and African Cities.’

These engagements not only highlight Cape Town's potential but also provide an international platform for discussing common urban challenges and sharing best practices in city governance and economic development. With these calculated moves, Mayor Hill-Lewis hopes to place Cape Town in the spotlight and attract more FDI, creating a ripple effect on job creation and overall economic growth.