City’s inaugural Bellville Business Expo shines a light on small businesses and area’s economic potential

11 June 2023

The Bellville Business Expo is launched in partnership with the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP).

The expo, which was open to the public, took place at the Bellville Park Campus at the University of Stellenbosch Business School and showcased some of the area's small businesses active across a range of sectors, including tech, clothing and textile, catering and transportation.

The event was preceded by a four-week bootcamp from which the top 30 businesses were selected to participate at the expo with all their costs covered.

'Bellville is a major investor drawcard in Cape Town. Between 2010 and 2021, the area welcomed approved building works valued at R7,3 billion. Through gatherings such as this expo, our goal is to connect local businesses to new clients and investment opportunities. The City's commitment to the community is made evident by its cooperation with the region-focused GTP. With the GTP, the City is stimulating the area's investment appeal while managing the aspirations of existing SMMEs. For example, our "better.bellville.together" place-making campaign utilises community assets, infrastructure and services to create safe and clean public spaces towards the larger goal of economic prosperity,' said Alderman Vos.

The expo also featured various public and private sector forums with information-sharing sessions as well as a chance to network and find avenues for collaboration and synergy.

Warren Hewitt, Chief Executive Officer at the Greater Tygerberg Partnership, added, 'The response we have seen to the 2023 Bellville Business Boot Camp and Expo exceeded our expectations, and the immense positive response only confirmed the need and readiness for such business programmes and events. The GTP wants to recognise the burgeoning SMME sector in Bellville which is not just home to Cape Town's busiest public transport interchange, it is also a vibrant, busy urban centre ready for extensive growth.

'In a recently completed Bellville CBD Business Retention and Expansion Study 2022, we have seen very optimistic outcomes. The study highlighted that 83% of businesses in Bellville were stable in size (40%) or preparing for expansion (43%). In addition, over 80% of businesses in 2022 agreed that one of the main advantages of operating in Bellville was due to its strategic location, a 30% increase from the study completed in 2015.'

The expo also featured various public and private sector forums with information-sharing sessions as well as a chance to network and find avenues for collaboration and synergy.

Alderman Vos highlighted that the expo gave a view of the City's various support initiatives for SMMEs.

'At the close of May, I had the pleasure to table the budget for 2023/24 in which close to R200 million has been allocated to various programmes aimed at assisting all sectors and levels of the economy from work seekers, entrepreneurs, small business and high growth sectors. With this budget, we will continue to host and fund platforms such as these expos, our Business Helpdesk, our High Impact course, and our Smart Supplier programme.

'Small businesses are the engine of jobs, innovation, and investment potential. Together with industry leaders and partners such as the GTP, the City is working to unlock opportunities for communities like Bellville and all across the metro,' said Alderman Vos.

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office

Economic growth Bellville