FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media/Public relations company: Afrolehar LLC.
Event Website Address: http://www.gyin.org

Washington, DC, August 23, 2011- Agribusiness is a broad concept that covers input suppliers, agro-processors, traders, exporters and retailers, and is now considered one of the avenues for Africa’s economic growth. Agriculture contributes 15 per cent of GDP, almost two thirds of total employment (64.7 per cent), and accounts for more than 75 per cent of domestic trade by value providing a livelihood for the majority of the economically active population.

Aside from the numerous investments, one of the leading agencies investing on the African continent is the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and in 2011, IFAD has partnered with Phelps Stokes to organize the inaugural launch of the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) program in Cotonou Benin on October 10-13, 2011.

Endorsed by the Government of Benin, GYIN is designed to provide support to entrepreneurs and innovators, and create an atmosphere for information and knowledge exchange, to ultimately empower youth to pursue their career goals.

As part of the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) program in Cotonou Benin will have a series of workshops and a fair that aims to contribute to the reduction of poverty among poor rural youth in Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia through exposure to opportunities and business prospects, innovation and knowledge on replicable youth-successful models in small scale agri-business to enable them to create and engage in sustainable small scale agri-businesses.

100 selected distinguished participants will benefit from networking with fellow youth, establish linkages with business networks, and interact with decision makers, delegates, government representatives, media and other partners. For more information, visit www.gyin.org.

In collaboration with the Government of Benin, Activos Culturales Afro (ACUA), Palmares Fundaçao, the Songhai Center, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), and Give One Project (G1P), Phelps Stokes, a 100 years old organization based in the US, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) will empower youth to engage in Agribusiness.

For any media inquiries, please contact Rahel Getachew by email at rahel@afrolehar.com or by phone at (703) 894-8945.

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Since 1911, Phelps Stokes has been a trusted partner to visionary leaders and organizations with big ideas that address the needs of under-served communities in Africa and in the Americas. We are, and always have been, committed to leveraging all of our resources to create lasting social change and help big ideas break through. Join us as we celebrate 100 years of identifying, investing in, and transforming under-served communities orldwide!