South Africa has secured a new investment commitment from U.S. technology company Cisco, giving fresh support to efforts to revive Johannesburg’s inner city while signaling continued interest by American businesses in Africa’s largest industrial economy.

The agreement makes Johannesburg the first city in Africa to join Cisco’s global 40 Communities program, a 10-year initiative that combines technology, funding and technical expertise to help communities improve infrastructure, digital access and economic opportunity.

The partnership comes at a time when South Africa and the United States are working to strengthen economic ties.

It also follows calls by U.S. officials for greater American investment in the country, where hundreds of U.S. companies already operate.

For Johannesburg, the agreement brings a global technology partner into an urban renewal campaign that has drawn support from government agencies, businesses and universities.

Supporters say the initiative could help improve digital skills, modernize infrastructure and create more opportunities for young people.

Cisco joins Johannesburg renewal effort

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Cisco and the Johannesburg civic movement Jozi My Jozi under the Masibambisane initiative.

The partnership makes Cisco the organization’s first U.S.-based strategic partner, joining more than 140 public, private and academic institutions working to restore the city’s inner core.

Announcing the agreement on July 17, the U.S. Embassy in South Africa said the partnership reflects the role American companies can play in supporting economic growth.

The embassy said Cisco’s investment will help build digital skills, strengthen infrastructure and expand opportunities for young people through technology and community partnerships.

Investment supports broader U.S. business ties

The agreement follows comments made earlier this year by the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Leo Brent Bozell III, who said South Africa remains America’s largest trade and investment partner in sub-Saharan Africa.

Speaking at the BizNews Conference in Hermanus in March, Bozell said more than 500 American companies operate in South Africa, employing over 250,000 people.

He said there is room for more investment and expressed confidence that the number of U.S. businesses in the country could grow if conditions continue to support private investment.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Cisco is one of the world’s largest networking and cybersecurity companies.

The company provides networking, cloud, software and security technologies to businesses and governments worldwide and generates more than $60 billion in annual revenue.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also said South Africa has received encouraging signals from Washington as discussions continue on expanding trade and investment.

The Cisco agreement is among the first major announcements since those talks, adding to expectations that commercial ties between the two countries could deepen in the coming years.