The Western Cape Government will be supporting the Blockchain Africa Conference 2019 when Premier Helen Zille, Premier of the Western Cape, and Minister Beverley Ann Schäfer, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, jointly deliver the keynote address at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 6 March 2019.

Conference hosts Bitcoin Events welcome their interest in the conference. Conference organiser Ms Sonya Kuhnel said: “We are fortunate to have Premier Zille and Minister Schäfer as our keynote speakers in Cape Town. The Western Cape Government is clearly committed to learning more about emerging technologies such as blockchain and its potential for economic growth and job creation.”

The Department of Economic Development and Tourism's vision is a Western Cape that has a vibrant, innovative, and sustainable economy characterised by growth, employment and equitable opportunities, and built on the full potential of all.

Premier Zille gives strategic direction to provincial departments by developing policy and the Provincial Plan of Action.

Premier Zille said: “Our Vision 2040 is of a highly skilled, innovation-driven, resource-efficient, connected, high-opportunity society for all. Our five strategic goals aim to achieve these objectives so that we can create an enabling environment for higher economic growth and increased jobs, and improve education and health outcomes, and build better living environments for our citizens.”

Minister Schäfer provides political and policy leadership for the two departments - agriculture, and economic development and tourism. The focus of her term is creating pathways for youth to access job opportunities. These pathways include skills development and education, especially around emerging technologies such as blockchain. The Blockchain Africa Conference 2019 will therefore be a good opportunity for her department to network with entrepreneurs, industry experts and companies already involved in blockchain, and to learn more about the technology’s economic potential in South Africa.

Minister Schäfer said: “The economy and creating jobs is at the centre of what we do in the Western Cape Government and as such, my focus will continue to be on the programmes that have made it possible to create 95 000 new jobs in the province in the past year.”

Read more about the conference speakers here.

The conference

Bitcoin Events has hosted the Blockchain Africa Conference since 2015, and this year it takes place at The Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg on 28 February-1 March, and at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 6 March.

For more information about the conference or to buy tickets, visit blockchainafrica.co or email us at info@blockchainafrica.co