Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) Kevin Wakeford is to join a select group of South Africans at a conference in London next week where he will outline opportunities in the province.

He will be one of only two provincial economic development heads to address the one-day conference, South Africa: Today and Tomorrow.

It is the eighth conference of its kind to be organized by one of South Africa’s former ambassador’s to the UK and Australia Dr Denis Worrall. The event coincides with the Davos World Economic Forum meeting which provides an opportunity for these South Africans to meet with some of the world’s top 100 business and government leaders such as JP Morgan Chase as well as leading media such as the BBC and Financial Times.

“This is a great opportunity for South Africa. Our province, in particular, has much to offer. Tourism is largely underdeveloped so the opportunities in this sector are impressive. The same can be said for our property sector.

“Then there is the opportunity to leverage off the huge investments which the government has made in infrastructure. The IDZ infrastructure investment is about R6 billion. That means greater export opportunities for businesses located here. Furthermore, there is still room for expansion in the automotive sector, despite our OEMs having successfully secured contracts of R7 billion for the next six years,” says Wakeford who takes to the podium on 24 January.

Fellow South Africans who will represent the country include the deputy governor of the SA Reserve Bank Dr Xolile Guma and Telkom CEO Papi Molotsane. Representatives from ABSA, Standard Chartered Bank, FABCOS, Premier Foods, Goldman Sachs and Barclays are also part of the conference line-up.

Wakeford has also secured two meetings with prospective investors.