11.10.14
In an effort to strengthen commercial ties with Africa, the new
President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa has been established, and its first 15 members were appointed.
Rahama Wright, the Founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen Health and Beauty is among the first council members, which were chosen by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Wright is making a significant impact in establishing the fair trade shea butter industry.
Pritzker commented:
"Economic growth on the Continent will continue to drive demand for U.S. exports, which will ultimately help create jobs at home and provide valuable investment opportunities for U.S. businesses. With Africa being home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, the President's Advisory Council will provide expert counsel on strengthening our partnerships with African countries to leverage opportunities for U.S. companies committed for the long term.”
The councils members were announced on November 5th at Discover Global Markets in Atlanta, GA.
Wright said:
”I am honored to be among a diverse group of private sector leaders who will be responsible for helping guide Secretary Pritzker in achieving President Obama's goal to strengthen and improve business development in Africa. I hope that my perspective as a social entrepreneur supporting grassroots economic development for women in rural Sub Saharan Africa will add value to the Advisory Committee."
A first generation Ghanaian American, Wright worked for the Peace Corps for two years in Mali to help create the first shea butter cooperative in her village. She founded Shea Yeleen International, a 501c3 that helps women in West Africa organize cooperatives and provides training and micro-enterprise development.
In 2012, Wright created Shea Yeleen Health and Beauty, LLC a for profit sister organization focused on the distribution of shea butter products. Wright works to help women in Northern Ghana earn a living wage through the production and sale of shea and gain more visibility within the US marketplace.
Photos: (L-R) Rahama Wright; Shea Yeleen She Butter; women processing raw shea butter in Ghana
courtesy of SheaYeleen.com/blog
President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa has been established, and its first 15 members were appointed.
Rahama Wright, the Founder and CEO of Shea Yeleen Health and Beauty is among the first council members, which were chosen by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Wright is making a significant impact in establishing the fair trade shea butter industry.
Pritzker commented:
"Economic growth on the Continent will continue to drive demand for U.S. exports, which will ultimately help create jobs at home and provide valuable investment opportunities for U.S. businesses. With Africa being home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, the President's Advisory Council will provide expert counsel on strengthening our partnerships with African countries to leverage opportunities for U.S. companies committed for the long term.”
The councils members were announced on November 5th at Discover Global Markets in Atlanta, GA.
Wright said:
”I am honored to be among a diverse group of private sector leaders who will be responsible for helping guide Secretary Pritzker in achieving President Obama's goal to strengthen and improve business development in Africa. I hope that my perspective as a social entrepreneur supporting grassroots economic development for women in rural Sub Saharan Africa will add value to the Advisory Committee."
A first generation Ghanaian American, Wright worked for the Peace Corps for two years in Mali to help create the first shea butter cooperative in her village. She founded Shea Yeleen International, a 501c3 that helps women in West Africa organize cooperatives and provides training and micro-enterprise development.
In 2012, Wright created Shea Yeleen Health and Beauty, LLC a for profit sister organization focused on the distribution of shea butter products. Wright works to help women in Northern Ghana earn a living wage through the production and sale of shea and gain more visibility within the US marketplace.
Photos: (L-R) Rahama Wright; Shea Yeleen She Butter; women processing raw shea butter in Ghana
courtesy of SheaYeleen.com/blog