Why TASEZ, and SA’s other SEZs, should care about the 2026 World Economic Forum
As the 2026 World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting unfolds in Davos, Switzerland, it presents an opportunity for the Tshwane Automotive Special Economic Zone (TASEZ) to gain strategic insights into global business trends, writes TASEZ CEO Dr Bheka Zulu.
While some may view Davos as an elite gathering far removed from local development practices, the reality is that the decisions, discourses and partnerships fashioned at this global crossroads directly shape the economic terrain in which TASEZ operates.
At its heart, the WEF’s theme this year, “A Spirit of Dialogue”, reflects a global recognition that in an increasingly contested and fragmented world, renewed cooperation across sectors is essential to unlocking growth, managing technological disruption, and building resilient societies.
The 56th global gathering – a diverse mix of governments, industries and sectors – takes place from 19 – 23 January 2026.
South Africa, which will be sending a delegation to the WEF, is taking the key message that the country is ripe for investment and ready to do business.
Davos is where global growth blueprints are crafted
One of the key pillars of discussion in 2026 is unlocking new sources of growth, an agenda TASEZ must align with as it seeks to attract investment, scale industrial capacity and foster innovation.
At a time when global growth is projected to slow and trade dynamics are shifting, constructive dialogue on growth strategies becomes vital.
TASEZ should care because the forum shapes narratives about where capital flows next – whether it is into manufacturing hubs in Africa, decarbonising industries, or smart-technology value chains.
Strategic awareness and engagement with the WEF ecosystem allows TASEZ to position itself in these narratives, rather than being shaped by them.
Technology and the future of work is not just a global issue, it is a local necessity.
At the heart of WEF’s agenda is the rapid reshaping of work and skills due to artificial intelligence and other frontier technologies. These trends are not abstract discussions.
Nearly one in five jobs worldwide could change significantly in the next five years, and reskilling labour forces is central to global competitiveness.
For TASEZ, this has direct implications for workforce development, educational partnerships, and industry-ready training programmes.
Being plugged in to these global conversations helps ensure that TASEZ’s talent pipeline matches investor expectations and technological realities, especially in automotive manufacturing, digital services, and green tech sectors.
Public-private collaboration is no longer optional
The WEF thrives on multistakeholder cooperation, bringing together governments, businesses, civil society and experts precisely because global challenges today do not have single-actor solutions.
TASEZ’s success depends on forging alliances that transcend borders: with multinationals scouting for regional entry points, with development finance institutions seeking credible partners in Africa, and with governments looking to catalyse industrial nodes.
What happens in Davos is not simply a talk shop, it is where ideas are mooted and alliances are formed – and it provides for participation far beyond Davos through an open digital media experience, including live-streamed sessions and community engagement.
Take, for example, how subnational delegations use the forum to showcase investment roadmaps and attract concrete commitments. Recent state delegations to Davos have used the platform to situate long-term visions in front of global investors.
A changing geopolitical and economic order matters to local zones too.
This year’s Davos opens against the backdrop of a shifting geopolitical order where trade tensions, fragmented cooperation, and contested norms are no longer fringe concerns.
For South Africa, and TASEZ, geopolitical shifts translate into supply chain volatility, changing tariff regimes, and new expectations for economic zones to support resilient, diversified manufacturing. Simply put, ignoring these macrotrends undercuts the zone’s ability to anticipate risk and opportunity.
Finally, Davos offers lessons in governance and accountability, relevant for an institution like TASEZ striving to model excellence in public-private economic management.
Even global institutions like the WEF have had to grapple publicly with leadership transitions and internal scrutiny, a reminder that credibility and ethical leadership matter deeply in today’s interconnected world.
TASEZ’s interest in the 2026 World Economic Forum is neither cursory nor ceremonial.
This global meeting encapsulates the forces shaping 21st-century economies – from innovation ecosystems to skills futures, from cooperative governance to investment flows.
Ensuring that the engagement extends beyond Davos is crucial, particularly for South Africa’s economic growth trajectory. South Africa, and by extension its special economic zones, should be not only anchored in the global economic currents, but able to influence them in ways that benefit the country and the broader continent.