James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth

Great to welcome the newly appointed CEO of Robben Island Museum, together with the Board Chair and Marketing Manager, to my office. We had an excellent discussion about strengthening collaboration to grow tourism, enhance visitor experiences, and promote one of Cape Town’s most remarkable attractions. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Robben Island tells a story that resonates around the world. And there’s something truly special about Cape Town, you can stand at the V&A Waterfront and have two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in view at the same time: Robben Island and Table Mountain. That’s a reminder of just how unique our city is, and why working together to showcase it matters so much. #ThisIsCapeTown #LoveCapeTown

Today, Cape Town was the setting for an important conversation about Africa’s economic future, as I addressed the 4th Southern Africa Conference on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) at the CTICC. My message was clear: Africa’s free trade agreement cannot simply sit on a shelf. It must help get more African products onto African shelves. To unlock this opportunity, we need stronger connectivity, better logistics, more manufacturing and fewer barriers between our markets. That is why I continue to push for an Open Skies policy that will allow more airlines to connect more African cities. Better air connectivity means stronger trade links, more opportunities for businesses, increased tourism and ultimately more jobs for our people. The opportunity is clear: more African businesses trading with African markets, more value created on our continent, and more economic opportunities for communities across Africa. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dKJh2wKd #EconomicGrowth #InvestCapeTown #AfCFTA

I had the privilege of being a guest speaker at the Local Tourism Forum, hosted in Langa. This month's event, held in collaboration with Women In Tourism Western Cape, brought together an inspiring line-up of speakers and passionate tourism professionals, all eager to learn, collaborate and grow. It's always encouraging to see people sharing ideas, building connections and working together to strengthen one of Cape Town's most important industries. This is what makes our city special. This is Cape Town. #ThisIsCapeTown #WomenInTourism #ChooseCapeTown

I’ve visited my fair share of factories over the years, but this week’s visit definitely satisfied my sweet tooth! A visit to the AFRIKOA Chocolate factory in Sanddrift, Milnerton, gave me a first-hand look at how a proudly Cape Town-based business is turning African cocoa into award-winning chocolate. Established in 2015, AFRIKOA sources heirloom cocoa beans directly from farmer cooperatives in Kyela, Tanzania, before transforming them into premium bean-to-bar chocolate right here in Cape Town. It’s a great example of how local businesses are adding value through manufacturing, building trusted supply chains and taking African products to the world. Businesses like AFRIKOA strengthen Cape Town’s economy every day. They may not be the biggest manufacturers, but they are certainly punching above their weight by innovating, creating jobs, exporting and proving that products made in Cape Town can compete with the very best on the global stage. I’m also pleased that AFRIKOA is listed on the Cape Trade Portal, which helps businesses become export-ready through training, market access support and connecting them with buyers around the world. I’d encourage more Cape Town businesses to make use of the Cape Trade Portal. The more local products we can get onto shelves across South Africa and around the world, the more our businesses can grow. And when businesses grow, they export more, invest more and, most importantly, create more jobs. That’s exactly why we continue working to make Cape Town the easiest place in Africa to do business. Congratulations to the AFRIKOA team for building a proudly African, proudly Cape Town brand and for showing what is possible when innovation, manufacturing and entrepreneurship come together. #ThisIsCapeTown #MadeInCapeTown #ChooseCapeTown #CapeTradePortal #InvestCapeTown

What a great start to my morning at VOYAGE YACHTS! The visit, facilitated by BlueCape, the City of Cape Town’s industry partner for the ocean economy, was an opportunity to see first-hand why Cape Town has become a global leader in boatbuilding. It was fascinating to see innovation in action. VOYAGE Yachts currently has four vessels under construction: one destined for the Seychelles and three for the British Virgin Islands. These are the company’s first fully infused catamarans, a manufacturing process that reduces waste, uses fewer consumables, and makes each vessel around one tonne lighter, improving both efficiency and performance. Cape Town’s boatbuilding industry employs around 8,000 people and produces, on average, one catamaran for every working day of the year—an incredible achievement that reflects the skill, innovation and craftsmanship found in our city. Industries like this create quality jobs, generate valuable export revenue and strengthen Cape Town’s reputation as a destination where world-class products are proudly designed, built and exported. As Team Cape Town, we remain committed to creating an environment where businesses can invest, innovate and create even more employment opportunities because every new investment helps make the unemployment queue shorter. #ThisIsCapeTown #BlueCape #ChooseCapeTown #MadeInCapeTown  #InvestCapeTown

Another successful Mayor’s Service Delivery Blitz! The Business Hub team and I enjoyed engaging with small businesses and entrepreneurs and connecting them with the City’s support services. #EconomicGrowth #InvestCapeTown

Thank you to everyone who visited the Jobs Connect team at the Mayor’s Service Delivery Blitz. It was a great opportunity to assist job seekers and share the City’s employment support initiatives. #EconomicGrowth #InvestCapeTown

Join me and my teams from the Business Hub, Jobs Connect and Public Trading at the Mayor’s Service Delivery Blitz in Gugulethu today. #EconomicGrowth #InvestCapeTown

The Mayor’s Service Blitz is coming to Gugulethu! Come engage directly with City officials, including the Business Hub, Jobs Connect and Public Trading teams. We look forward to seeing you there! #EconomicGrowth #InvestCapeTown City of Cape Town