The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has set an ambitious target of securing over R90 billion in investment pledges during its two-day 2025 KZN Trade and Investment Conference, which opened at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) on Tuesday.
The conference has gathered leading domestic and international investors with the stated aim of positioning the province as both a gateway to Africa’s economy and a dynamic, competitive hub for global trade.
Providing context on the event, a reporter on the ground highlighted the exhibition area where municipalities and government entities were showcasing products and opportunities. A key feature of the conference is a dedicated “deal room” where project promoters are given a platform to present to potential investors.
The MEC for Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs, Reverend Musa Zondi, offered a robust update on the progress of pledges from the previous year’s conference. He revealed that of the R85.2 billion in pledges secured in 2024, an impressive 68% are already at the implementation stage.
“We are overwhelmed in the sense that over 60% of those pledges are already at implementing stage,” Zondi stated. “Trenches are being dug. The cranes are flying and people are working. Wheelbarrows are moving… it moves us from theory to reality.”
The MEC pointed to tangible outcomes, citing the recently completed Princess Mkabayi Mall in Zululand as a direct result of the investment drive, bringing retail infrastructure to hinterland communities. He also mentioned a pledge from the Moolman Group for a new major mall in the UMhlathuze Municipality, expected to open within the next year.
Zondi emphasized the core motivation behind the drive, stating, “We pushing back the frontiers of poverty and unemployment. We’re creating opportunities for our people to get jobs.”
Acknowledging a significant hurdle for investors, the MEC detailed the problem of bureaucratic “red tape,” including complex municipal bylaws and numerous application processes. To address this, he announced that the provincial executive council has approved the establishment of a Central Investment Office within the Premier’s office.
This new office is designed to be a one-stop-shop for investors, facilitating all necessary applications—from environmental impact studies to utility connections—in a single location to dramatically speed up the process.
The conference is set to conclude tomorrow, with an official announcement expected on the total value of investment pledges secured for the province’s future development.
