Setting Cape Town on a Growth Trajectory — The “Big Five” Economic Priorities for 2026
By Alderman James Vos, Mayco Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town
As we begin 2026, Cape Town stands at a critical juncture in its economic evolution.
A lot has been done to establish Cape Town as South Africa’s city of hope, a city rich in potential, endowed with global appeal, and driven by the ingenuity of its people.
Over the past several years, my team and I in the Economic Growth Directorate have worked tirelessly, not in isolation, but in constant engagement with business, labour, communities, industry partners, and Capetonians, to create foundations that will allow us to unlock further sustainable growth, create more jobs, and continue to expand opportunities for all.
In the months ahead, and as we reach the end of this local government term, our priorities are more crystalised.
Several critical reforms still lie ahead this year, with exciting prospects to catalyse further investment, empower entrepreneurs, and cement Cape Town as Africa’s business and tourism destination of choice.
Here are the “Big 5” strategic priorities that will guide Cape Town’s economic growth policy agenda this year.
1. A Manufacturing Support Policy that Powers Jobs and Competitiveness
Cape Town’s manufacturing base is about more than just factories and machines, it’s about jobs, stability, and the future of work in a global economy that is constantly responding to shifting demand and the emergence of new technologies.
Last year we published Cape Town’s Manufacturing Support Policy for comment. This is our plan to expand Cape Town’s unique package of incentives and support from a few selected target industrial areas to all 33 industrial areas in our city.
This year I will ask Council to adopt a final version of this game-changing policy to facilitate investment, streamline approvals, and offer incentives to attract new investors and retain existing ones.
This is about making it easier for manufacturers to set up, grow and employ local workers, while remaining competitive in a global economy. It is, quite simply, a policy driving the continued growth of the manufacturing sector, creating jobs that matter and livelihoods that last.
2. A Modernised Public Trading Bylaw that Boosts Informal Traders
This year we will also advance a new Public Trading Bylaw to make it simpler to trade, ensure fairness, and empower traders to succeed.
Cape Town’s informal economy is a vital engine of opportunity, for young entrepreneurs, for mothers and fathers supporting families, and for local neighbourhoods buzzing with commerce.
This by-law will importantly set out transparent rules for trading, facilitate expanded access to trading opportunities, and give dignity to work while balancing public space management. This will ensure that informal traders can thrive with certainty, structure and support.
3. Evolving the Ease of Doing Business for Competitiveness and Growth
Ease of doing business is a top priority across the economic spectrum, and this year we will continue evolving our Ease-of-Doing-Business Index, which Cape Town was the first African city to adopt.
This is a tool for actionable change because it tracks key indicators – from planning approvals and utility connections to digitisation, property transfers, and business licenses – to identify bottlenecks and cut red tape.
Our goal is clear: make Cape Town the easiest city in Africa to start, operate and grow a business. This is not only good for investors; it’s good for job creation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic confidence.
We are continuing to improve the Index as the City’s tool for action and positive impact for our Business community. Dig into the Index’s details on our dashboard, view the Invest Cape Town Dashboard here..
4. An improved Business Support Policy
Cape Town has, as far back as 2018, approved a Business Support Policy (BSP) to guide the City’s support for Micro, Small and Medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurs.
Since then, we have gained valuable insight into the evolving needs of local businesses, creating a clear opportunity to update and strengthen the policy further this year.
Look out for exciting updates on how the City proposes to better serve the entrepreneurs, start-ups and enterprises that employ so many Capetonians, drive innovation, and grow our economy.
In 2025 alone, the City helped 5,816 participants as part of our Business Hub training initiatives, demonstrating both the scale of need and the tangible impact of targeted business support.
5. A Tourism Development Framework to Grow Value and Spread Benefits
Tourism is core to Cape Town’s identity and economy. While the city’s natural beauty and cultural riches are unparalleled, we must also refine how Cape Town grows tourism in a sustainable and inclusive way. Updates to our Tourism Development Framework will articulate how we attract more visitors, extend their length of stay, increase spend, and ensure that tourism growth translates into tangible benefits, tourism jobs, support for small tourism enterprises, and community economic impact.
Updating this framework is a key priority this year to reflect emerging global best practice and local insights crucial to our visitor economy strategy.
The Bigger Picture
Each of these exciting policy reforms will be underpinned by detailed research, extensive engagement, and public participation to ensure they are practical, credible and responsive.
In this way we will ensure that these five pillars – manufacturing support, informal trading reform, ease of doing business mechanisms, improved business support, and tourism development – will continue to shape Cape Town’s economic landscape for years to come.
This is the economic growth agenda I will be driving as Mayoral Committee Member, alongside the officials and the Portfolio Committee in the Economic Growth Directorate, and with our business partners, focused on delivery, implementation and outcomes for Cape Town.
We have set priorities that matter. Now we will deliver on them.
