In a bold diplomatic move aimed at bolstering investment and promoting growth in the Western Cape, Premier Alan Winde has returned from a significant 10-day official visit to the United States. This strategic journey not only reinforced the province’s longstanding relationships with key US stakeholders but also highlighted the importance of the USA as a crucial trade partner, particularly during a time of heightened diplomatic tensions.

High-Level discussions in key cities

Accompanied by a delegation from the Western Cape Government and representatives from Wesgro, Premier Winde’s visit included high-level discussions in Washington D.C., Atlanta, and New York City. The journey commenced with a briefing at the South African Embassy, where trade representatives detailed the importance of US engagements for the Western Cape’s economic landscape. Winde expressed his commitment to supporting negotiations aimed at solidifying trade agreements that will benefit both South Africa and the Western Cape.

“Growing the economy to create more jobs is our apex priority in the Western Cape, and our trade relations with the USA are of critical importance,” Winde stated. “The USA is a key market for our exports and a significant source of investment. We are determined to ensure that our mutually beneficial trade ties remain open and continue to grow.”

Strengthening economic partnerships

During his engagements in Washington D.C., the delegation met with key players from the US State Department, the American Chamber of Commerce, and the World Bank, all of whom underscored the importance of the Western Cape as a vital trade partner. Notably, the USA is the province’s second-largest export market, with Western Cape exports amounting to over R18.32 billion in 2024—a 2.66% increase from the previous year. The Western Cape now contributes over 50% of South Africa’s agricultural and agri-processing goods to the United States, making the safeguarding of these sectors a top priority.

Investment from the USA has been robust, with the country being the lead source for foreign direct investment over the past decade. A total capital expenditure of over R29 billion has been poured into 62 projects across various sectors, including communications and pharmaceuticals, further emphasising the need to maintain and enhance these relationships.

Tourism growth and future prospects

The Premier also enjoyed fruitful discussions with Georgia’s Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta’s Mayor Andre Dickens during the Atlanta leg of the visit. The Western Cape has enjoyed formal bilateral relations with Georgia since 2014, focusing on cooperation in areas such as agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy. Those ongoing relations were strengthened further with Georgia’s commitment to sending a delegation to the upcoming 12th Regional Leaders Summit this November.

Tourism, a vital growth sector for the Western Cape, received a significant boost with 163,303 tourists arriving from the USA in 2024 alone, reflecting an impressive year-on-year growth of 16.45%. The Premier was particularly excited to announce that Delta Air Lines would be increasing its flights to Cape Town from three to five per week by the end of October. “This is how we create jobs – by growing trade, tourism, and foreign direct investment,” he noted, recognising that for every 10 tourists, one job is created or sustained in the province.

Commitment to climate action

Premier Winde’s final stop was New York City, where he participated in Climate Week NYC. He presented valuable insights from the province’s success during Cape Town’s “Day Zero” drought crisis, sharing strategies that could be instrumental for regions facing similar water scarcity challenges. While in New York, he also reaffirmed the Western Cape’s commitment to climate action, representing the region as co-chair of the Under2 Coalition and signing onto initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions—an area that contributes significantly to local greenhouse gas outputs.

“The increased severity of droughts and climate-related disasters in our province highlights the urgent need for resilience,” Winde reiterated, emphasising that water and energy security are integral to the province’s pursuit of economic growth.

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