Organisers are anticipating the success the reSURGEnce 2025 conference will have in investments when it is held in Durban in September. 

The reSURGEnce 2025 is marketed as a transformative movement committed to building equitable ecosystems where Black-owned businesses and professionals not only compete, but lead.

Organisers highlighted systemic barriers that limit access and opportunity. The conference is aimed at building opportunities for investment with the theme promoted: “Ensuring a thicker slice of the economic pie for generations to come”.

Wednesday’s online launch is the first step in a coordinated strategy to create generational wealth, rebuild economic foundations, and redefine the economic landscape. Organisers also claimed that Black entrepreneurs and African-led ventures have faced barriers to capital, government contracts, global markets, and powerful networks.

The conference is a venture funding initiative for trade corridors, building pipelines that directly connect opportunities with the Black business community — locally and globally.

Another slogan marketed by organisers was: Connect: Bridging Continents. 

The conference is where African entrepreneurs, investors, corporate leaders, and policymakers converge, linking Africa with the diaspora and beyond, intending to cultivate a powerful global network of visionaries. 

Musa Mbhele, eThekwini city manager, spoke of multibillion-rand investment opportunities in all parts of Durban, including a dry-port, a second airport, and residential developments. 

Mbhele said these opportunities have the potential to transform the lives of the underprivileged and disenfranchised in economic development. 

“We identified catalytic projects of high value that lead to spatial growth and job opportunities. These projects will have spin-offs. They are driven by the private and government sectors, and public-private partnerships,” he said. 

Dr George Fraser said that global strategic alliances and good match-making had exponential growth among a network of leaders. 

Ndaba Thembekile Zweliyajika Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela and a prominent author, entrepreneur, and activist, said the reSURGEnce conference was a much-needed platform to build a firm bridge between Africa and the world. 

“We will unite and come together. There is no shortage of skills in Africa. Young people have a duty to contribute to development on the ground. We deserve respect and a seat in how Africans should be leading development on the ground,” Mandela said. 

Dr Ron Daniels said organisers should measure achievements made between conferences and how many businesses and investments were created.

“I don’t want to just be meeting, I want to see things move forward,” he said.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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