Dr Rob Davies was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry by President Jacob Zuma in May 2009 and reappointed to the position in May 2014. During his first term, he oversaw the development and implementation of annual three year rolling Industrial Policy Action Plans as well as steering South Africa's participation in important trade relations, including the Tripartite SADC-COMESA-EAC Free Trade Area, BRICS, Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, the US-Africa Growth and Opportunity Act, and the World Trade Organisation Bali package. Dr Davies is now involved with the launching and implementation of the National Development Plan, a long-term strategic roadmap for ensuring that all South Africans attain a decent standard of living through the elimination of poverty and reduction of inequality.