Wesgro, the Western Cape’s tourism, trade, and investment promotion agency, has played a vital role in the province’s growth strategy. As the agency continues to contribute significantly to the economy, fostering good governance and diverse leadership is crucial to its continued strategic growth.
In the 2022/23 financial year, Wesgro achieved remarkable results for the province, including R4.1 billion in committed investments, R3.1 billion in exports, and R423 million secured via events and conferences. Furthermore, the agency helped create 2,413 jobs through investments and exports.
The MEC of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, recently welcomed four new board members to Wesgro. These professionals were appointed to bring valuable and diverse perspectives and skillsets to facilitate foreign direct investment into the Western Cape, grow the exports of products and services from the region, and differentiate the province as a competitive business and travel destination globally.
Dr. Shirley Zinn, the newly appointed chairperson of the board, has a strong background in corporate governance and academia. Her extensive history in various industries and non-profit organizations, alongside her consulting company’s proprietorship, makes her a valuable addition to the board.
Ms. Natalie Jabangwe, an accomplished Chief Digital Executive Officer and Investment Professional, brings over a decade of international expertise in financial services and technology. She also serves on the Board of Commerce for digital financial trading across Africa and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO).
Ms. Sabine Lehmann, a renowned tourism strategy expert, has more than 25 years of experience in the tourism and visitor attractions management industry in South Africa. Her successful campaign to include the Cape Town Table Mountain Cable Way as one of the Natural 7 Wonders of the World showcases her dedication and expertise in the field.
Mr. Velani Mboweni, co-founder and CEO of a successful tech start-up, is a fellow of the Harambeans Entrepreneur Alliance (USA) and an Alibaba eFounders Fellow (China). He holds academic credentials from the University of Cape Town and Wits Business School.
Wesgro CEO, Wrenelle Stander, expressed confidence in the new board members, stating that their depth of experience and expertise would add tremendous value to the agency. Stander emphasized the board’s vital role in shaping the strategic direction of the organization, providing governance oversight, and ensuring alignment with core values.
As the province and country face significant challenges, achieving breakout economic growth is crucial for lifting people out of poverty and into jobs. MEC Wenger looks forward to working closely with the Wesgro Board in growing tourism, attracting increased investment, and realizing booming trade. By doing so, the agency aims to achieve a R1 trillion provincial economy that is growing between 4% and 6% by 2035, ultimately creating many more jobs for the residents of the Western Cape.
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