KwaZulu-Natal’s largest combined regional business and government delegation ever to travel to Britain were there in June to share the facts that Durban is Africa’s ‘premier investment destination’.

This investment mission and roadshow was a meaningful response to a request from eThekwini Mayor, Cllr Zandile Gumede to promote the city and the province that houses it â€" KwaZulu-Natal, to the United Kingdom (UK).

The objectives of the mission were for representatives of KwaZulu-Natal’s senior government and business
leadership to engage at a high level with government and business leadership in Newcastle and London. The aim was to strengthen ties and to target significant new investment flows, whilst deepening the international governance and relations via the bilateral investment drives into the City of Durban and the UK. The mission provided the opportunity to share the facts around why Durban is Africa’s ‘premier investment destination’ and to obtain international exposure for the catalytic projects currently underway. The intention was to attract international investments into these, plus to create platforms for new FDI catalytic projects.

Another primarily objective was to continue to implement the significant “Step-Change” called for in the eThekwini Council approved Durban Investment Promotion Strategy for the Invest Durban Unit.

The Mission and Roadshow Programme was as follows:

• 4th & 5th June â€"Arrival of delegation in Newcastle followed by a welcome event at the Newcastle Castle hosted by local politicians and other prominent members of regional business/political community.
• 6th June â€" A full day programme consisting of a Roundtable Trade and Investment event, a port tour in Tees Valley and a reception by the Mayor Mr Ben Houchen ending the day’s programme in County Durham.
• 7th June â€" Two elements ran concurrently. The first part of the delegation participated in prearranged B2B meetings with the host delegation followed by a business and Council set of presentations held at the Council Chamber, Newcastle Civic Centre.

The second part of the delegation went ahead to London to have a workshop meeting with British Airways
Marketing. The delegation conveyed a formal thanks to the British Airways Board for their vote of confidence in Durban.

The delegation also re-engaged with Discovery Channel as part of the ongoing partnership in promoting Durban. The engagement with Discovery Channel covered the Legacy Project for Youth, and an update
on what has been achieved in promoting Durban as a tourism destination was covered.

• 8th June â€" The Durban-London Investment Day was hosted in Kensington, London at the Gloucester Millennium Hotel in seven concurrent meetings rooms. A target of 40 B2B meetings, had been set but this figure was exceeded with over 65 back to back prearranged meetings held throughout the day. These meetings were followed by a cocktail reception within which was a panel discussion on “Investment Returns in KZN â€" Where to Look?”.

Social Media
The interest in the roadshow was reflected in interactions on social media. The Invest Durban Facebook page engaged 8340 people over 24 posts in the comments, likes and shares. For the duration of the investment drive the page reached 73 619 people. The page also grew to 2342 followers. Many of the comments and reactions were positive with numerous well wishes and congratulations. City leadership and business heads have been liking, commenting and reacting to the posts.

The Invest Durban Twitter account had 26 692 impressions/ engagements over 39 posts. The account also grew to 476 followers. The campaign comprised retweeting and sharing content from key profiles of business leaders and media. This engagement showed support for the roadshow and allowed for Invest Durban to trend on this platform.

Selected quotes from the UK and SA Business delegation Zienzi Dillon â€" Carmel Global Capital: “A well organised Investment Day. Carmel Global Capital will be following through for possible funding of Ocean Mall, Richards Bay 2000MW power plant and Durban Waste to Energy â€" local partnership.”

Andrew Thompson â€" Elan Property Group: “We were very satisfied with our B2B appointments and the early evening cocktail presentation.”

Martin Orji, Managing Principal and Board Member of NR Capital, one of the investors at the London B2B meetings described these engagements as, “timely, in terms of the selection of projects â€" it is the type investors need to see”.

Batanayi Katongera, a Head at MacFarlanes LLC in London remarked, “The quality of the projects, and the packaging plus presentation of the Durban investment materials is truly world class; better than most I’ve seen in London to date.”

UK investor follow-ups have already been secured for the 28/29 October with a return flight home booked on the British Airways inaugural direct Durban flight on the 29 October. This will also dovetail with the UN World Investment Forum in Geneva (22-26 October).

A similar repeat UK Investment Mission led by the city and province’s leadership is recommended to be again undertaken in the new financial year, in accordance with the UK summer season in June 2019.