The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), in partnership with Business Process Enabling South Africa (BPESA), will host the Global Business Services (GBS) Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, from 3–5 November 2025.
The conference will bring together investors, international brands, policymakers, and industry leaders from key markets such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States to explore new investment and job creation opportunities in South Africa’s rapidly expanding GBS sector.
According to the BPESA/EVEREST Value Proposition Report 2025, South Africa’s GBS sector continues to show strong growth and resilience, with an increase in headcount from 60 000 in 2019 to approximately 150 000 in 2024. With a 22% annual growth rate in new jobs over the past four years, the sector is helping position South Africa as a leading destination for digital and Information and Communication Technology-enabled services, advancing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s job creation and export goals under the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).
Speaking ahead of the event, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Zuko Godlimpi, says the conference reaffirms the dtic’s strategic focus on industrialisation, investment promotion, and inclusive growth.
“The GBS sector is one of the fastest-growing contributors to youth employment and export-led growth in South Africa. Through our collaboration with BPESA and other partners, we are ensuring that South Africa continues to attract high-value, sustainable investment that not only creates jobs but builds long-term economic competitiveness,” says Godlimpi.
He further highlights that the dtic continues to support the sector through strategic partnerships with BPESA and the Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, which serves as an ecosystem facilitator for linking youth talent to global opportunities. These partnerships have successfully attracted foreign direct investment and established new employment pathways for thousands of young South Africans.
“The growth of the GBS sector is a direct outcome of our collaborative industrial policy, one that prioritises job creation, transformation, and export diversification. Through this conference, we aim to deepen investor confidence and showcase South Africa’s capacity to deliver world-class business services to international markets,” concludes Godlimpi.
The sector aims to create an additional 50 000 jobs over the next few years, targeting a total of 500 000 by 2030, a milestone that reflects the dtic’s ongoing commitment to inclusive growth and industrial expansion.
Enquiries
Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
Tel: (012) 394 1643
Mobile: 079 5083 457
WhatsApp: 074 2998 512
E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
Issued by: The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic)
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