accelerate cape town
DESCRIPTION
A presentation by Guy Lundy, CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, a private sector organisation aimed at driving long-term economic growth in the Cape Town region.TRANSCRIPT
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