More than 500 representatives of all points in the shea value chain participated in the Global Shea Alliance’s “Global Perspectives” conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria, in March, and set the course for the future of an industry whose global significance grows with every year. Alliance members set up working groups on sustainability on the critical issues of quality and sustainability, and elected a new president.

Shea 2013: Global Perspectives coming to Abuja, Nigeria in March 2013

Shea 2013: Global Perspectives, the sixth annual conference of the Global Shea Alliance, will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, March 4-6, 2013, the Global Shea Alliance announced. “Shea connects people around the world, linking buyers and producers across the globe,” said Joe Funt, managing director of the Global Shea Alliance.

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The Trade Hub submitted its April to June quarterly report of activities to USAID this week. Trade Hub-assisted exporting companies generated US$1.5 million in exports last quarter, attracting US$280,000 in investment and creating 75 jobs (61 filled by women). A new enhanced AGOA Resource Center opened in Cameroon in April and the Transport team released two comprehensive studies during the quarter.

Explore the locations of some of the export ready companies we work with across the region. (N.B. This map was last updated in August 2010.)

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Seven West African shea exporters from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal established contacts with buyers at the New York State Cosmetic Chemists Suppliers’ Day. Sustainable sourcing was of greatest interest.

An American-Pakistani manufactured apparel joint venture has started recruiting for more than 60 new jobs at a facility it is just opening in Tema, Ghana.

More profitable lending in West Africa.

The Trade Hub has facilitated the development of five brands: AfricaNow!, Taste of Africa, Source Africa, Global Shea and the African Cashew Alliance. Companies using these brands established links with over 400 international buyers. The Hub partnered with the U.S. African Development Foundation to establish the “AfricaNow!” brand in 2009.

The Trade Hub specifically targets women-owned companies for assistance: More than a quarter of companies that receive assistance are owned and managed by women. The Trade Hub’s work in the apparel sector creates jobs that are overwhelmingly filled by women and millions of rural women help support themselves and their families by collecting, selling and processing sheanuts.