Business ’bonanza’ for Cape Town following Miami show

A business delegation from Miami-Dade County in Florida has confirmed it will visit Cape Town to explore business opportunities on the back of successful roundtable discussions with South African counterparts at this year’s Miami Boat Show.

The City of Cape Town, co-sponsors of the South African exhibition in Miami, this week welcomed news of the American visit, which it described as a major positive spinoff to come out of the show.

James Vos, Cape Town’s head of Economic Opportunities and Asset Management, said: “On the side-lines of the boat show, on Friday 15 February 2019 the Miami-Dade County’s Beacon Council hosted a special business roundtable discussion focusing on business opportunities in Cape Town. Incidentally, the City of Cape Town and Miami-Dade County are sister cities.

“I am excited to confirm that the discussions concluded with Desmond Alufohai, senior international trade coordinator for Miami-Dade County, announcing to business leaders that there would be a follow-up mission to Cape Town in March this year. We look forward to hosting the business delegation next month; and welcoming mutually beneficial business partnerships in the future,” Vos said.

He said the Florida delegation included businesses hoping to import products from South Africa to the US, and others interested in setting up companies in Cape Town.

The City of Cape Town is seeking to bolster its boatbuilding sector, home to around 70% of the country’s yards and attracting a positive trade balance of around US$73m annually. Speaking during a visit to two of the city’s largest yards, Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato said the city was investigating possible incentives to help expand the sector and attract more foreign investors.

“I am proud to build on our track record of being one of the top catamaran-producing countries in the world,” said Plato. “The city, through its Invest Cape Town initiative, will collaborate with partners from business formations, investment promotion agencies like Wesgro and sector support entities, and all spheres of government to expand the boatbuilding footprint in Cape Town.”