Accelerating the CapeGuy Lundy
Understanding our competitors
Cape Town
Johannesburg
DurbanPort Elizabeth East London
Pretoria
Dubai
Singapore
Barcelona
Bangalore
Austin
Sydney
Port Louis
What makes a world class city?
Becoming a “world class” player requires:
Uniqueness
Focus
Global orientation
Innovation
A sensitive radar system
Ability to attract talented young people
Social and environmental responsibilitySource: Clem Sunter
Understanding how the world sees us
“I`d imagine that being in Cape Town or Durban, you`d feel out of that
international loop. Cape Town and Durban are
basically villages.”
Keith BrebnorJohannesburg Chamber
of Commerce
Opportunities
• We have great international goodwill• Natural environment• Revitalised city centre• Ports at Cape Town and Saldanha• Position on major trade routes and proximity
to West African oilfields • Comparative skill levels• 4 universities• Diverse population
Challenges
• The rest of the country doesn’t take us seriously• It is difficult to attract and retain business and talent• We have a leadership and vision vacuum • There is lack of cohesiveness• Inequality – “Cape Town is surrounded by a ring of
fire” – Clem Sunter• Complacency – “There may be a ring of fire, but there
is no burning platform” – Mike Freedman• Infrastructure is being strained• Parastatals run out of Pretoria• Negative media/attitude around 2010
Southern Comfort
Our current reality
InclusiveExclusive
High growth
Low growth
Scenarios for 2025
Types of city transformations…
• Awakening - Singapore, Dubai• Turnaround: Re-birth - Johannesburg• Turnaround: Re-invention - Barcelona, Glasgow• Pre-emptive strike - Melbourne
Which type represents Cape Town?
The Death of Cape Town?OM’s move to Jo’burg presents the Mother
City with the prospect of a business exodus.Mail & GuardianJanuary 2007
What is needed in the Cape?
• Long-term vision: Define what Cape Town can be in 20 years
• Understand and agree what is unique about the “city region” of the Cape i.e. what can’t be replicated by the Chinese
• Understand that we have few binding constraints• An image makeover• An attitude adjustment• Self-confidence• BIG thinking• Partnerships
“We want Cape Town to be Africa’s leading City. I would like to re-
emphasise that we cannot do this without the private sector.”
Helen Zille
Accelerate Cape Town (ACT)
A private sector initiative aimed at bringing together stakeholders in the Cape region to develop and
implement a long-term vision for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.
Why the City Region?
• Development occurs in geographic space• Business doesn’t care about municipal boundaries
“In the world that I live in there are no examples of successful cities that don’t have flourishing regions working around them or successful
regions that don’t have at their core a leading successful city.”
Greg Clarke, OECD
What does ACT do?
Think Network Influence Mobilise
ConnectedCape Town
Visitor Welcome
Project
GreenEnergy
InnovationHub
ACT
Taking action
Contact details:
Guy Lundy
CEO
Accelerate Cape Town
021 4087425
www.acceleratecapetown.com