Head of Trade and Industrialisation | Toyota Wessels Institute of Manufacturing Studies (TWIMS)

Mbongeni Ndlovu is an academic, consultant and development economist. He is the Illovo Academic Head of African Trade and Industrialisation at TWIMS, an academic institution, and a Senior Researcher at B&M Analysts. Mbongeni’s research and consulting focuses primarily on the automotive, clothing and footwear, and agro-processing industries. He has contributed to the development of a Sub-Saharan African Automotive Pact model; South Africa’s Automotive Master Plan; South Africa’s Clothing, Textiles and Footwear Master Plan; and a National Strategic Framework for Agro-Processing. Mbongeni has a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics and Finance, Cum Laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and two Master of Science qualifications, in African Studies and Economics for Development from the University of Oxford. The Oxford qualifications were obtained by Mbongeni as a Rhodes Scholar (South Africa-at-Large & Lincoln). He is currently completing a PhD in Economics with specialisation in industrial development at the University of Johannesburg. His PhD topic is The effects of regional value chains on industry competitiveness.