Rob Haydn Davies is minister of trade and industry of South Africa.
Education
Davies obtained his Bachelor Honours in economics from Rhodes University and then went on to complete an Master of Arts in international relations at the University of Southampton, and a Doctor of Philosophy in political studies from the University of Sussex.
Career
Political Due to his anti-apartheid activities Davies left South Africa and lived in Britain and Mozambique between 1979 and 1990. During this time he was attached to the Centre for African Studies at the Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique. In 1990 he became co-director of the Centre for Southern African Studies at the University of the Western Cape.
He was deputy Minister of Trade and Industry from June 2005 until May 2009 and Chairman of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance.
He was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry by President Jacob Zuma in May 2009 and re-appointed to the position on May 25th 2014.
Politics
On his return from exile he conducted economic research for the African National Congress and the Southern African Development Community.
Membership
Davies has been a member of Parliament since 1994 and is a member of the central committee and politburo of the South African Communist Party (SACP).