03-05-2017
Wesgro notes the 27th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa' start in Durban today and wishes all delegates in attendance well.
Considering recent economic developments within South Africa and across the continent, the Forum could not be happening at a better time.
“Earlier this year we met WEF Community Lead, Regional Strategies: Africa, Patrick McGee in Geneva and had a promising discussion on the prospect of the Forum's return to the Cape, and intend to use the Forum's current presence in South Africa as an opportunity to continue this lobbying effort,” said Wesgro CEO Tim Harris.
Cape Town has hosted seven of the past eleven WEF on Africa conferences, with universal praise for the quality and impact of the events that took place at the award-winning Cape Town International Convention Centre. Since 2009 the annual event alternated between Cape Town and other host cities on the continent:
2009 – Cape Town
2010 – Dar es Salaam
2012 – Addis Ababa
2011 – Cape Town
2013 – Cape Town
2014 – Abuja
2015 – Cape Town
2016 – Kigali
In 2015 the 25th World Economic Forum on Africa was held in Cape Town, and with over 1 250 participants from business, politics, civil society, academia and the media, the forum was the largest and most successful WEF event ever held in Africa.
Although the conference hosts for 2017 and 2018 have been lined up, Wesgro has made the case to the WEF that this precedent of host cities alternating with Cape Town should be reinstated in 2019.
Cape Town’s unparalleled infrastructure base, world-class universities and vibrant environment have given the region an edge over other business tourism destinations in Africa. Our award-winning airport, and growing network of flight connections across Africa and the world, means that the World Economic Forum can count on Cape Town to host world class Africa conferences in 2019 and beyond.