DAKAR, Senegal, May 22, 2006 - US Ambassador to Senegal, Janice Jacobs, and Senegal’s Minister of State, Minister of Finance, Abdoulaye Diop, along with other senior dignitaries, celebrated the launch of the new Economic Growth program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the program’s Dakar offices on Wednesday, May 10, 2006. The five-year program encompasses business development services, public-private partnerships and policy reform.

IRG Chief of Party, Regina Brown, presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony which included over 100 guests. “Working closely with the people, institutions and government of Senegal, this USAID program will help to increase opportunities for trade and investment for the Senegalese people and allow for greater competitiveness in the international marketplace,” she said.

International Resources Group and a consortium of international and local partners and organizations will implement the program. During its operation, the Economic Growth program will focus on expanding the value chain for a variety of products produced in Senegal, including cashew nuts, mangos, bissap syrup, fonio (a local grain), fish, textiles, milk products and horticulture. The goal is to ensure that local Senegalese are engaged at every juncture along the production process, so that all profits remain in country—from seed to market. The project will also pursue public private partnerships with national and international firms and work to implement appropriate policy reforms that will increase opportunities for trade and export for Senegal.

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IRG contact:
Sue Telingator
Stelingator@irgltd.com
Tel: 202-289-0100