Rob Davies, the newly appointed minister for the Department of Trade and Industry, has said he plans to focus on the government’s industrial policy and on deepening south-south trade, according to a report on Business Day.

Davies, who previously acted as the deputy trade and industry minister to his predecessor Mandisi Mpahlwa, said he would also look towards taking a more offensive stance to multilateral trade negotiations.

“The overall thrust of all our work will be around the theme of enhancing our capacity to deliver on industrial policy in ways that will meaningfully create and sustain decent work,” said Davies.

“I want to create an atmosphere in the country where people understand that industrial policy is going to be our key economic policy and that we are attracting the brightest and the best to come and work in this area in the department,” he added.

Davies said he will be working closely with Ebrahim Patel, the new Economic Development Minister, adding that the Department for Economic Development will be crucial in forcing other departments to follow through on industrial decisions that impact on them.

On the global stage Davies said he will look to organise a major event later this year with fellow emerging superpowers China, India and Brazil, as well as members of the Southern African Customs Union to formulate an agenda to promote south-south trade.