Global summits and international meetings to be hosted in Joburg in 2013

Johannesburg’s reputation as a premier destination for international conferences and exhibitions will receive a major boost this year when the city hosts three global summits, along with several lar

Johannesburg’s reputation as a premier destination for international conferences and exhibitions will receive a major boost this year when the city hosts three global summits, along with several large international conferences.

In association with stakeholders, Joburg’s Convention Bureau continues with its sustained bidding efforts, and there is no doubt that these are bearing fruit, contributing substantial economic benefits to the local industry.

The C40 Summit on Climate change will take place in June 2013, bringing together global leaders, activists, and innovators to discuss environmental issues relating to the urban environment.

Mayors and decision-makers from the world’s largest cities will converge on Johannesburg next year for the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Metropolis organization.

The city will also play host to the One Young World Summit, a global forum of young leaders which is expected to attract some 1,000 delegates from every continent.

One Young World was established in 2010 to ensure issues affecting the youth are receiving global attention. Among its patrons are Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. Young leaders can now apply to attend the next One Young World Summit, which takes place in Johannesburg, South Africa, October 2-5, 2013. One Young World delegates are 18-30 years old and have demonstrated their leadership potential. Many have already had an impact in their home countries on a range of issues, including the role of business in society, transparency in business and government, the impact of climate change, and global health and hunger relief. Visit www.oneyoungworld.com for more details.

C40 is a group of 59 major cities who share knowledge and experience on the environment, climate change, and the sustainable management of resources. It is currently chaired by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and is supported by the Clinton Climate Initiative. The first summit was held in London in 2005, followed by New York (2007), Seoul (2009), Sao Paolo (2011), and now Johannesburg (2013).

The meeting of Metropolis will be the most important gathering yet of representatives of major metropolitan areas to discuss issues regarding the impact of urbanization on the world. The five-day event will take place in July 2013 and coincide with a meeting of the Forum of Metropolitan Mayors.

Metropolis (The World Association of Major Metropolises) is the leading organization that represents more than 120 of the world’s leading cities with a population of more than one million people. Among the prominent cities that belong to Metropolis are Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Bangkok, Dubai, Cairo, Toronto, Sydney, Madrid, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Kuala Lumpur, Atlanta, and Dakar.

This year, the city of Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development is organizing the first Buy Sell Invest Visit Conference and Expo in April 2013. Part of the city’s Buy Sell Invest and Visit initiative, this flagship program aims to bring together people from the Brics and Southern African Development Community blocs to partner with private and public organizations.

This program is part of the city’s 2040 strategy, which outlines the growth of Johannesburg over the next 3 decades into a sustainable, prosperous, and resilient place to live and work. It aims to not only to attract new investment into the city, but support existing businesses and help them to expand.

Envisaged as an annual calendar event, this 3-day conference is targeted at 1,000 prominent local, provincial, national, and international business stakeholders. Its purpose is to attract investment, seek markets for its products, and maintain top of mind awareness of Joburg as a tourist destination, while showcasing its infrastructure capabilities.

The impressive line-up of forthcoming Business Events in Joburg includes:

2013
World Credit Congress [May 14-16]
Pan African Franchise Federation Conference [May 9-10]
Pan Pacific Association Business Congress [June 3-6]
Chattered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Global Challenge [August 26-30]
59th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Congress [August 28-September 6]
26th International Council of Management Consulting Institutes [September 23-28]
World Agility Championships [October 10-13]
WADA (World Anti Doping Agency) Congress [November 12-15]

2014
21st General Meeting of the International Mineralogical Association [September 1-5]
21st World Orchid Conference and Show [September 8-12]

2015
World Congress of Healthy Ageing [March 21-26]

JOBURG’S GDS 2040

In terms of Johannesburg’s Growth and Development Strategy [GDS] – the Joburg 2040 [ www.joburg.org.za/gds2040 ] – tourism remains an economic growth imperative on the city’s agenda. It is an important catalyst to encourage the development of the SMME sector in order to stimulate the growth and development of a vibrant second economy. It is Johannesburg Tourism’s strategy mission to attract visitors to Joburg, encourage them to stay longer, spend more, and improve seasonality patterns and the spread of visitors across the city.

In line with these developments and as part of the institutional review process to effect closer alignment with city goals, the Joburg Tourism Company is being incorporated into the city’s Communication & Tourism Group. The GDS is coupled to the city’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and both are aligned with the National Planning Commission’s New Growth Path.

Joburg Tourism’s ongoing local and international promotional campaigns include exhibiting at business and leisure trade exhibitions where Joburg Tourism shares its plans to maintain, defend, and grow its market share. As the city of Johannesburg’s destination marketing organization, Joburg Tourism remains focused on positioning the city not only as the continent’s leading business hub, but also as an exciting, vibrant, year-round destination for signature events, lifestyle, the arts, culture, fashion, sports – not forgetting mega-events.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...