The city is home to 66% of the Western Cape's population, and generates 76% of the regional and 11% of the national gross domestic product (GDP). Cape Town is the region's major centre for health care, education and shopping, providing employment to and attracting people from within the region and beyond. It is therefore vital that Cape Town is seen within its regional context, and that planning for the city is done in conjunction with regional planning.

This is the basis of the ongoing cooperation between the City and the Provincial Government (Province), working towards a development strategy for the City's functional region, with all spheres of government attempting to develop a practical system to align their planning and budgeting processes.

Cape Town's development planning is in alignment of all three tiers of government to ensure optimal impact from the combined efforts f government.

For the past few years, the City's economy has been driven by the construction, tourism, retail and property sectors. However, both Province's and the City's growth strategies extend beyond these sectors.

The City is continuously monitoring the actions that are required of other spheres of government to ensure the growth of City target sectors, such as spending on education, crime prevention, energy policies, protection of the environment and transport. Each of these sectoral strategies will be developed to support and complement the IDP as well as national, provincial and regional strategies.

Cape Town plays an important and ever-increasing role within the South and Southern African context. It is a valued contributor to the national economy, and together with the Gauteng Global City region and Ethekweni Municipality, anchors the SADC regional economy.

As a globally relevant city, Cape Town therefore has a huge responsibility to fulfil in the growth and development of the African continent.

At the same time, to ensure economic growth in an increasingly global economy, Cape Town must market itself for investment, competing with other cities internationally. At the beginning of the 20th century, port capacity and manufacturing capability were the benchmarks for success amongst global cities. Now, intellectual capital, transportation assets, business costs, technology IQ, innovation, and ease of doing business (eliminating red tape) are seen as essential for growth and development.

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