This section of the City's web portal provides accurate, relevant and reliable information that enables you to make informed choices about investing and accessing economic opportunities in Cape Town. The City's finances and financial management practices are world class, as reflected in the rating given to them by Moody's International. For more information, click here.

Investment opportunities

External finance

The City uses external loans and bonds to finance infrastructure such as roads, sewage pipes and electricity distribution equipment. Three bonds have been issued thus far, with the last being a R2 billion bond in March 2010. Bond announcements are made via the press and on this site.

For more information about the City of Cape Town's financial standing in respect of its financial statements click here, for policies click here and for annual reports click here. 

For more information on external finance click here.

Economic development

Investors can contact the City's Economic and Human Development Department (EHD), its agencies and partners for investment opportunities.

The EHD Department is responsible for promoting economic growth, job creation, reducing poverty and monitoring inequalities in Cape Town, through a number of projects and programmes, such as Small Business Week, the Business Voucher Support Programme, and the Smart City Strategy. To read more about these, click here.

Wesgro

Wesgro is the official trade and investment promotion agency for the Western Cape. The City contributes R7-million to Wesgro's R19-million annual budget, with the rest provided by the provincial government of the Western Cape. Wesgro's strategy is aligned to the City's Economic and Human Development Strategy, as well as the province's Micro-Economic Development Strategy.

Over the last five years, nearly 15 000 jobs have been created thanks to the agency. Most of these have been in the skilled sector. This last financial year saw 2 388 jobs created in Cape Town and 2 693 in the rest of the Western Cape (excluding call centres). Wesgro attracted R605-million in investment into the city's R123.9-billion economy, attracted R5.45-billion in investment over the last five years. 

Cape Town Partnership

The City has also doubled its financial contribution to the Cape Town Partnership over the next three years. (2008 - 2010) This means the City will contribute R18 million over the next three years - an increase of more than 50%. The Partnership has generated an impressive rate of return on the City's investment. Projected forward to 2010, for a total investment of R28,2 million of ratepayer's money, the City will leverage R202,5 million of private sector contributions in the form of City Improvement District (CCID) levies.