(Ecofin Agency) - The cocoa and coffee interprofessionnal council (CCIC) on 20 October 2015 in Milan, Italy, for the Universal Expo, organizes the “New Generation Youth Forum” to present the opportunities that Cameroon’s cocoa-coffee sector has to offer but also the objectives and benefits of its “New Generation” scheme.

“Considered by international cocoa-coffee associations as one of the most innovative initiative in these sectors over the recent decades”, this programme was launched 3 years ago by the CCIC. It aims at rejuvenating producers and plantations so as to ensure the sustainability of these sectors that experience ageing of plantations and workforce.

During the Milan forum to which will participate young producers trained by New Generation, CCIC’s executive secretary, Omer Gatien Malédy, will present on the homecoming programme. This session destined for the youth of the Cameroonian diaspora present at the forum, is organized to facilitate the introduction of this youth to Cameroon’s cocoa-coffee sector.

This call addressing the Cameroonian youth diaspora falls in line with New Generation’s development goals that include the training of 3,000 youth yearly against the actual 1,000. The first beneficiaries of the New Generation programme already put in place 1,335 acres of cocoa farms, from which first batches will start production in the ongoing season.

The “New Generation Youth Forum” which begins on October 20, 2015 in Milan will be headed by the Cameroonian trade minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana. This will be CCIC’s fourth participatory act during the Milano 2015 universal expo.

Indeed, CCIC has already intervened in the animation of Cameroon’s day on July 7, 2015, and in the organization of the Coffee Business Trip earlier in September. This last initiative was to encourage business partnerships between Italian coffee roasters and Cameroonian coffee operators.

BRM