Lionel October

Mr Lionel October is the Director- General in the Department of Trade and Industry (dti), a position he has held since January 2011. He has a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of London, and a legal degree from the University of Western Cape. Mr October was instrumental in key trade negotiations with the European Union.

At the dti he has also spearheaded key industrial and enterprise development policies such as the National Industrial Policy Framework and Action Plan, and the development and implementation of broad-based black economic empowerment legislation, to name a few. Mr October was responsible for the enterprise and economic development portfolio, and served as an economic and trade diplomat at the South African Embassy in Brussels from 2007 to 2011.As an experienced economist, he has held various senior positions related to trade unions, including that of general-secretary of the South African Clothing and Textile Union.

He previously served on the boards of a number of public policy bodies and government agencies, such as the Industrial Development Corporation and the Coega Development Corporation.