Cape Convention centre set for expansion into big league

By 2020 the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) aims to be the best long-haul convention centre in the world, with the help of an expansion project that will see it double in size.
Construction is expected to be completed by 2014.

At a joint press conference the CTICC, the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government announced that funding had been secured by the three parties to expand the centre.

The expansion, part of a R4.5 billion urban regeneration project, is set to include 10 000m of retail space, a hospital, an office tower, numerous basement parking bays, as well as the regeneration of Founder's Garden by the provincial government, which will connect the Artscape precinct with the new, larger CTICC. A skywalk will be built over the major roads of the area to connect the new building to the current centre.

The proposed expansion of the CTICC is set to boost Cape Town's reputation as a globally competitive business destination and contribute to economic growth through driving job creation in the city and the province as a whole.

Alan Winde, Finance, Economic Development and Tourism MEC, said demand for the convention centre had outstripped its current floor space.

"This project will allow Cape Town to bat in the business tourism major leagues by creating a far bigger and more compelling conventions and cultural events space that we can offer to the world.

"This expansion will allow us to maximise on our competitive edge in this key strategic sector."

CTICC chief executive Rashid Toefy said yesterday that there had been a strong business case for the expansion. Toefy cited a recent feasibility report by economists from UCT's Graduate School of Business that measured the possible impact of the expansion. It revealed that the centre's contribution to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was expected to increase from R 2.3bn currently to more than R 5.1bn per annum.

He said from inception, the mandate of the centre was to contribute to economic growth and job creation, through attracting international meetings and events to Cape Town. Since opening its doors in 2003, the centre had played a pivotal role in raising the profile of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a leading globally competitive business destination, he said.

Speaking at the conference yesterday, Felicity Purchase, mayoral committee member for economic development and tourism, said the city had identified the holding of events as a key component of its economic development strategy.

Toefy said it was envisioned that the expansion would allow the CTICC to double the number of international meetings it currently hosts, allowing it to compete with destinations like Singapore and Beijing.

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