Infrastructure projects in Gauteng are vital to the burgeoning economy and its increasing tourism potential ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Nowhere in South Africa is transformation, modernization and integration so apparent as in Gauteng Province. Cultural diversity and heritage are being promoted and embraced

Situated in the heart of the Highveld, Gauteng is the smallest of the nine provinces in South Africa yet the “powerhouse of the economy” accounts for 40 percent of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP) as well as 60 percent of its fiscal revenue. In fact, the province and its rapidly growing population of more than eight million contribute 9 percent to the GDP of the whole African continent.

Gauteng literally means “place of gold” in the Sesotho languages, and has its roots in the gold rush that was sparked by its discovery in Johannesburg in 1886. Fast becoming to sub-Saharan Africa what the Eastern Seaboard is to the U.S., modern Gauteng is now the economic hub of South Africa and the preferred home for local and international businesses looking for a sound commercial base and a foothold into developing African markets.

Along with the rest of the nation, the province has undergone a dramatic economic and social transformation in the twelve years since the end of apartheid. The Gauteng Provincial Government, through its various agencies, has created an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. Policies aimed at building up the economy, reducing unemployment and poverty, and increasing broad-based economic empowerment have been carefully mapped out by the 2014 Growth and Development Strategy. Bongiwe Kunene, Deputy Director-General of the Gauteng Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, says, “A central component of the strategy is to develop the economy through key sectors, based on their potential to achieve high growth rates and create jobs through multiplier effects.” Essentially the focus is on smart industries, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, trade and services.

One of Gauteng’s strengths lies in its ability to innovate, apply knowledge and create new products and services. Earlier this year it launched a business barometer – an innovative mechanism measuring economic progress and the business mood across the province on a monthly basis, which is highly rated by investors. The Gauteng Economic Development Authority (GEDA), a one-stop shop that assists investors in all areas of investment and trade, has so far facilitated $400 million in inward investment. Blue IQ is a multi-billion rand initiative promoting business tourism, high value-added manufacturing, logistics and ICT. CEO Nomhle Canca comments, “It is true that the country’s transformation has been quite intense and rapid. Blue IQ has stimulated the economy in areas where there had previously been market failure.”

Black Economic Empowerment is the fulcrum of South Africa’s determination to atone for the past.

Playing a key role in demonstrating the transformation and capacity of South Africa is the Gauteng Film Offices (GFO), a non-profit company that streamlines new productions. Culturally, the province is as multifarious as the scenery. “In our films today, all cultures are being pulled together to create a South African identity. Transformation for us is not only about including the previously disadvantaged. It is about reflecting our diversity,” comments GFO Chief Executive Terry Tselane.

Increased exposure has also boosted tourism. Projects such as the Cradle of Humankind and the Origins Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg educate and inform while promoting the ancient heritage of South Africa. CEO of the Gauteng Tourism Authority Cawe Mahlati says, “Tourism has allowed the previously marginalized sections of the population to participate economically. It can be accessed by virtually anyone and has thus become a beacon of hope.”

The legalization of gaming reflects another facet of the changing nation. Until 1994, the only legal form of gaming was betting on horseracing. Now Gauteng has six fully operational casinos. CEO of the Gauteng Gambling Board Jacques Booysen says, “One of the issues whecriteria for granting licenses was Economic Empowerment.”