ALEC ERWIN OF SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT OF UNCTAD IX
Press Release
BIO/3013
TAD/1819
ALEC ERWIN OF SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT OF UNCTAD IX
19960429 Biographical NoteMIDRAND, South Africa, 27 April -- The ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) today elected Alec Erwin of South Africa as President of the Conference, which is being held in Midrand, South Africa, 27 April to 11 May.
Mr. Erwin was appointed Minister of Trade and Industry of his country in the weeks preceding the Conference.
Formerly a Deputy Minister of Finance (1994-1996), Mr. Erwin has also held a number of high-level posts in trade union organizations, during which time he also served as a member of the Development and Reconstruction Committee for the implementation of the National Peace Accord. He has also served as editor of the African National Congress Reconstruction and Development Programme, the central tenet of policy of the Government of National Unity.
In his work with trade union organizations, Mr. Erwin was National Education Officer, National Union of Metalworkers (1988-1993); Education Secretary, Congress of South African Trade Unions (1986-1988); Education Secretary (1983-1985) and General Secretary (1979-1981), Federation of South African Trade Unions; Branch Secretary, National Union of Textile Workers (1981-1983); and General Secretary, Trade Union Advisory and Coordinating Council (1977-1979).
Prior to that, Mr. Erwin taught at the Department of Economics, University of Natal (1971-1978) and the Centre of Southern African Studies, University of York, United Kingdom (1974-1975). He received a Bachelor of Economics degree, with honours, from the University of Natal, Durban.
Born on 17 January 1948, Mr. Erwin is married and has two daughters.
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