CITY’S INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES SHOWCASED INTERNATIONALLY
- Wendy
- Oct 16
- 3 min read
Invest Durban, the City of Durban’s official investment promotion agency, is proud to announce its participation in the AFSIC – Investing in Africa Conference and Expo in London from 14 to 15 October.
This engagement form part of Invest Durban’s broader investment promotion and stakeholder engagement strategy aimed at attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the city, strengthening global partnerships, and positioning Durban as a leading African investment destination.
The strategic objective of participating in these two high level events is to:
■ Promote Durban as a premier African investment destination.
■ Position the city’s flagship and catalytic infrastructure projects to international investors.
■ Advance Durban’s blue economy initiatives, particularly in marine infrastructure and coastal tourism.
■ Strengthen inter-governmental and international stakeholder partnerships.
■ Leverage high-level networking opportunities to generate actionable investment leads.
Durban at AFSIC 2025
The AFSIC – Investing in Africa Conference and Expo is the continent’s most influential annual investment platform held outside Africa. The 2025 edition, hosted by Africa Events Limited (AEL) in London, will convene over 1,500 delegates, including institutional investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), business leaders, and senior government representatives. AFSIC 2025 targets pan-African and United Kingdom /European Union based investors and trade stakeholders Under the theme “Business, Chambers, Government: Partners for Prosperity,” AFSIC 2025 will focus on strengthening collaboration across the public and private sectors to accelerate inclusive growth, unlock infrastructure investment, and build sustainable economies across Africa. The conference offers an advanced digital networking environment through the African Investments Dashboard and the Africa Business Opportunities Dashboard, enabling matchmaking between African projects and global investors. These tools address the continent’s well-known challenge of moving projects from feasibility to financial close – an issue highlighted in McKinsey’s Solving Africa’s Infrastructure Paradox report.
Key features of AFSIC 2025 include:
■ Over 350 expert speakers covering infrastructure, fintech, agriculture, energy, logistics, and urban development.
■ Sector-specific workshops and country-focused investment sessions.
■ Access to the AFSIC Event App to pre-arrange investor meetings.
■ A platform for cities to showcase investment pipelines and public-private collaboration opportunities. As a Silver Partner, Invest Durban will enjoy prominent branding, access to targeted investor sessions, and high level networking opportunities. This participation positions Durban among Africa’s most active and credible investment hubs, enhancing its visibility to institutional investors seeking impactful, bankable projects. Invest Durban’s participation highlights the City’s commitment to strategic global engagement, sustainable development, and positioning Durban as a city of choice for international investors.
Strengthening Durban’s Ocean Economy
Following AFSIC, Invest Durban will participate in the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference (WMC) in Venice from 15 to 17 October 2025. Hosted by the International Council of Marine Industry Associations, the event attracts global leaders in marina development, marine infrastructure, coastal tourism, and blue economy financing.
The 2025 conference will explore themes of sustainability, innovation, and investment in the marina industry, with participation from government agencies, city planners, developers, financiers, and private sector operators. Durban’s engagement in ICOMIA directly supports the city’s blue and ocean economy strategy, particularly as it advances new marine and waterfront precincts.
Participation will enable:
■ Benchmarking of international marina infrastructure standards.
■ Insights into innovative public-private partnership models.
■ Access to specialised blue economy financiers and infrastructure funds.
■ Exposure to best practices in coastal climate resilience and sustainable tourism.
According to Invest Durban Russell Curtis, attendance at ICOMIA “presents an opportunity to strengthen Durban’s global positioning in coastal investment, enhance sector-specific expertise, and attract partnerships that support sustainable marine infrastructure.” Global Platforms, Local Impact Through its presence at AFSIC and ICOMIA, Invest Durban is strategically combining continental investor engagement with sectoral focus in marine and coastal development.
These platforms will not only reinforce Durban’s reputation as a gateway for African investment but also provide a channel to attract funding for projects that drive economic growth, job creation, and long-term sustainability.
As Curtis notes, “Durban’s international visibility is vital to ensuring that our city continues to attract quality investment. By showcasing our catalytic projects on global platforms such as AFSIC and ICOMIA, we are securing the partnerships and investor confidence needed to build a more resilient and inclusive economy.” Invest Durban’s participation highlights the City’s commitment to strategic global engagement, sustainable development, and positioning Durban as a city of choice for international investors.
Russell Curtis
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