Accelerate Cape Town Grows Collaborative Partnerships

     
Accelerate Cape Town, a business-led initiative in the Western Cape, is succeeding in its aim of bringing regional stakeholders together in order to develop and implement a long-term vision for sustainable, inclusive economic growth.

As part of its mandate to form beneficial collaborative partnerships Guy Lundy, CEO of Accelerate Cape Town, has been appointed to the board of Wesgro, the official investment and trade promotion agency for the province.

Lundy believes that the move will be advantageous to both organisations. “As Wesgro is a government agency and Accelerate Cape Town is private-sector-led, we are forging a government-business partnership, which can only benefit the Western Cape economy,” he says.

“My appointment to the board of Wesgro is an indication of the partnership approach between Accelerate Cape Town and Wesgro. This enables Accelerate Cape Town to have an influence on the strategic direction of trade and investment promotion in the Western Cape.”

Believing that dialogue is a key element to a stronger economy, Accelerate Cape Town has also instituted monthly meetings with Albert Schuitmaker, executive directive of the Cape Town Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

While Wesgro and the Chamber have considerable traction in the SME sector, Accelerate Cape Town represents 30 of the largest companies in the Western Cape. A collaborative effort will ensure that both sets of voices are heard, adds Lundy.

“As part of our Vision 2030 project, we aim to work together with other business leaders and organisations on what the economic vision, strategy and business brand of the region should be over the next 20 years. It is important that we have a good relationship with other business organisations to make this as effective as possible,” he says.