President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the announcement, describing it as a milestone for South Africa and the continent. He said hosting the World Economic Forum would showcase South Africa as an open, capable, and investment-ready economy. “This is an opportunity to present South Africa and Africa as credible partners in global growth, innovation and sustainable development. South Africa will gain a global platform to showcase its infrastructure, financial services sector, renewable energy projects, manufacturing capabilities, and digital economy. WEF executives said South Africa was selected due to its strong financial systems, modern infrastructure, proven ability to host large international events, and its strategic role as a gateway to Africa.