The Gauteng provincial government (GPG) has declared its inaugural Gauteng Infrastructure Investment Conference a success, telling delegates during a closing session on Friday that the two-day event had catalysed cooperation between the province and private players around infrastructure project collaboration, delivery and funding.

Describing the event as a platform through which to promote “mutually beneficial and transformative” partnerships between government and the private sector that would contribute towards transforming Gauteng into a globally competitive city region, Gauteng Premier David Makhura held that, among the most important issues discussed, the promotion of innovative funding mechanisms for pubic infrastructure development had proved particularly relevant.

“The Gauteng Infrastructure Investment Conference is a partnership in action between government and the private sector and a programmatic commitment to work together to make Gauteng a preferred destination for investment and tourism.

“We also came here to solicit your views on our infrastructure plans and enlist your partnership and support in making them a reality and I trust that we have done so with this conference,” he told delegates.

The Premier further noted the interest expressed by the provincial private sector in investing in the several State-led bankable strategic infrastructure projects presented during the conference as investment-ready prospects.

“We came here to sell our vision for Gauteng so that you can understand the inspiring vision and programme we have adopted as a country and province to build a society of our dreams,” he concluded.

Makhura on Thursday said the private sector remained the mainstay of fixed investment in the Gauteng economy, currently accounting for 80% of gross fixed capital formation.

He further touted the public–private partnership financing model as “the only way the province would survive”.

The second Gauteng Infrastructure Investment Conference would be held on July 27 and 28 next year, where the GPG had committed to reporting on the progress on several infrastructure projects that had been initiated since the inaugural event.