MEC Jesta Sidell unveils plans for upcoming investment and mining conference
MBOMBELA— Member of Executive Council for Economic Development and Tourism (DEDT), Jesta Sidell, officially unveiled plans for the 2025 Mpumalanga Investment and Mining Conference.
The two-day event will take place from 2–3 October in Middelburg and is expected to bring together government, private investors and business leaders to chart a new economic path for the province.
“This conference is a critical step in our mission not to only reinforce Mpumalanga’s position as a mining powerhouse but also [to] diversify our economy and attract new investment across a range of sectors,” she said. The conference will focus on driving investment for a sustainable and inclusive economy while showcasing opportunities in the green economy, renewable energy, tourism and agro-processing.
Sidell said that while mining will remain central to the province’s economy, the event aims to highlight broader opportunities that can stimulate job creation and growth. “At the core of this conference is the drive to build an inclusive economy that will create jobs for the people of Mpumalanga,” Sidell added.
Mpumalanga contributes 7,8% to South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product, making it the country’s fourth-largest provincial economy. Yet growth has been sluggish in recent years, with under 1% recorded between 2022 and 2024. The MEC said the conference will help position Mpumalanga as a globally competitive investment hub and attract capital to unlock new opportunities.
Among the projects to be showcased are renewable energy ventures aimed at driving South Africa’s energy transition, new world-class tourism attractions — including an ambitious plan to create Mpumalanga’s own version of Table Mountain — as well as agro-processing initiatives to boost rural economies. The conference will also highlight a broad range of opportunities in the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors, along with agriculture, which remains one of the major contributors to Mpumalanga’s economy.
“This conference is not just an event. It is a platform to unlock new frontiers of economic growth that will benefit both current and future generations,” she said.
The conference is seen as a game-changer in the province’s aggressive measures to unlock investment opportunities, grow the economy, and create jobs. Among its objectives, it aims to position Mpumalanga as an investment destination of choice under the theme “Driving Investment for a Sustainable and Inclusive Economy.” Spearheaded by the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA), government has set an ambitious target of R50 billion in pledges to be raised during the two-day event.
