Ms. Lerato D. Mataboge is a prominent figure in African trade and economic development, currently serving as the Deputy Director-General for Trade and Investment at the South African Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
Her career is marked by significant achievements and leadership roles aimed at advancing intra-African trade and integration.
Ms. Mataboge founded and led Trade Invest Africa, an initiative under the South African government focused on fostering sustainable partnerships with the private sector to enhance intra-African trade and investments.
She has been instrumental in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and previously served as Chief Director for Africa at the Department of Trade and Industry. Her diplomatic experience includes a term as Minister: Economic at the South African Embassy in Washington D.C., USA.
Educationally, Ms. Mataboge holds a BA in Law and International Relations, an Honours degree in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and a Masters degree in International Political Economy (International Trade and Global Finance) from the University of Warwick, UK.
She has received certificates in trade negotiations, bilateral investment treaty negotiations, and project management from prestigious institutions including the European Institute of Public Administration, WTO/UNCTAD, and SADC Secretariat respectively. She also completed Executive Training at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government on infrastructure project conceptualization and preparation.
Ms. Mataboge’s commitment to African leadership and development has been recognized through various accolades and roles. She was featured in Destiny Magazine’s “Power 40 under 40” in 2015 and served as co-chairperson of the South African Presidential Working Group on the North-South Corridor from 2011 to 2015.
She currently sits on the Board of the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) and contributes her expertise to the UNIDO Practitioners’ Group on Norms, where she helps mainstream norms and standards for global development.
Her insights and contributions to Africa’s economic growth and integration are documented in the autobiography of Dr. Rob Davies, South Africa’s longest-serving Trade and Industry Minister, titled “TOWARDS A NEW DEAL – A Political Economy of the Times of My Life“.
Ms. Mataboge continues to advocate passionately for Africa’s economic advancement and remains a key figure in shaping regional trade policies and initiatives.
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