South Africa hosts sixth Investment Conference with global focus on investment-led growth

The sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) is taking place on 31 March 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Held under the theme “Invest. Partner. Prosper", the event aims to position South Africa as a competitive and forward-looking destination while mobilising new capital flows and strengthening long-term international partnerships.

The conference has attracted a broad international presence, with more than 1,200 delegates from over 50 countries across five continents. Among them are senior government officials, global investors, development finance institutions, banking executives, and corporate leaders.

Opening the event, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the country’s economic resilience and reform trajectory.

"Between 2018 and 2023, having set a target of attracting R1.2 trillion (US$70 billion) in investments, we attracted more than R1.5 trillion (US$80 billion) in credible, verifiable investment commitments across energy, telecommunications, infrastructure, property, mining, advanced manufacturing, and a range of other sectors. […] This proved that South Africa is an investable market, but more importantly, it showed that South Africa is ready to do business. Our investment strategy is anchored in sectors that will drive growth and create jobs at scale, including manufacturing, mining, beneficiation, digital infrastructure, agriculture, and green industrialisation," he emphasised.

The President also underscored the importance of partnerships in unlocking growth, pointing in particular to cooperation with development finance institutions.

"The Development Bank – the BRICS Bank – has also indicated that it will make approximately R34 billion (US$1.9 billion) available for the 2026–2027 period. […] This is what partnerships at scale look like, and this is the type of partnership that we value here in South Africa"

Cyril Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa

The conference programme features a series of high-level sessions focused on strategic partnerships, energy and critical minerals, innovative financing and economic diplomacy. Discussions range from positioning South Africa as an investment destination in the current global landscape to exploring new financing models and advancing cooperation in infrastructure, technology and sustainable development.

One of the key focus of the forum is the discussion on critical minerals, which has emerged as one of the most strategically significant topics on the global investment agenda.

Cyril Ramaphosa stated that South Africa's abundant mineral reserves place the Republic in a unique position to leverage growing global demand for critical minerals required for clean energy, hybrid and new energy vehicles, technological applications, and heavy industry.

"As the producer of more than 70 per cent of the world’s platinum group metals, and with some of the largest manganese and chrome reserves globally, we are well positioned as a strategic partner in this rapidly expanding sector. We have been clear that the energy transition must be just and inclusive, leaving no one behind," he stated.

Beyond the core investment agenda, the conference also highlights South Africa’s broader economic strengths, including its tourism sector, which continues to play a key role in attracting international interest. The country recorded a milestone 10.5 million international tourist arrivals in 2025, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and signalling strong recovery momentum. Authorities note that tourism remains a strategic driver of inclusive growth, job creation and global engagement, supported by measures such as the expansion of flight connectivity and the introduction of an online eVisa system.