At the inaugural Western Cape Investment Summit in Cape Town from 5 to 7 November 2025, Premier Alan Winde reaffirmed that agriculture remains at the heart of the province’s economic growth and resilience. His message was clear: where there is investment, there is growth – and where there is growth, there is opportunity.
Premier Winde praised the determination of farmers and agri-entrepreneurs who continue to drive exports, create jobs, and build sustainable communities. Over the past decade, the Western Cape’s economy has grown by more than eight percent, outpacing other provinces. Nearly 90 percent of all new jobs created in South Africa over the past five years were generated here, many within the broader agri-value chain.
Agribusiness and Food Systems: Feeding the World
The Premier described the Western Cape as Africa’s top exporter of agri-processed products, crediting the province’s producers for their innovation and international reputation. From wine, citrus, and stone fruit to natural products such as rooibos and buchu, Western Cape agriculture continues to expand its footprint in global markets.
He highlighted milestones such as Afriplex’s EU-certified facility in Paarl, which shipped South Africa’s first batch of medicinal cannabis oil to Europe. The Cederberg’s rooibos industry, now protected under European Union designation status, is another example of how local producers are capturing niche, high-value markets. “Our natural abundance,” Winde said, “is also our competitive advantage.”
The Premier commended the agricultural sector for adopting climate-smart and sustainable practices that preserve natural resources while driving exports and creating rural jobs.
Green Economy: Powering a Sustainable Future
Energy security is a growing concern for agriculture, and Winde emphasised that renewable energy is not just part of the plan – it is the plan. Through the Energy Resilience Programme, the Western Cape has already added 819 MW of non-Eskom generation, with a goal of reaching 5 700 MW by 2035. The province also captures 70 percent of South Africa’s renewable energy manufacturing capacity.
He singled out the R47 billion Saldanha Bay hydrogen project as a cornerstone of the province’s green economy. This initiative, he said, will create new industries and reduce costs for energy-intensive agri-processors while unlocking export opportunities for green products.
Infrastructure and Logistics Supporting Growth
The Western Cape’s strong infrastructure network underpins its agricultural success. The province ranks 19th globally on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, with efficient ports, well-maintained roads, and growing airfreight capacity. New developments such as the Cape Winelands Airport and Maersk’s large-scale cold-storage facility will strengthen export logistics for perishable goods, ensuring faster delivery to markets across the world.
Partnership and Good Governance
Premier Winde also credited good governance for sustaining investor confidence. The Western Cape Government has achieved three consecutive years of clean audits, and most of South Africa’s best-run municipalities are based here. These stable conditions allow investors and farmers to plan, expand, and innovate with confidence.
A Province Moving with Purpose
As Winde concluded, “We are not just growing – we are moving with purpose.” For the Western Cape’s agricultural sector, that purpose lies in sustainable growth, rural development, and continued global competitiveness. From the vineyards of the Winelands to the fruit orchards of Ceres and the grain fields of the Overberg, agriculture remains not only the backbone of the provincial economy but the heart of its motion – a living example of growth with purpose.