Miriam Belhaine

YEP period 2019 - 2021, batch 18

Young Expert at VDS A’campo - Benin

---

First position after YEP

Business Developer at VDS A’campo, Benin

---

YEP Role

As a business developer, I have set up and am co-managing the Holland Greentech (HGT) office in Benin. This entails the registration of the company, organizing the importation process, and hiring a local team. As my colleague Jelila Blalogoe manages the agronomic side of the business, I focus more on external relations, (financial) administration, project development, and the overall management of the company.

Holland Greentech offers an integrated portfolio of the best horticulture products, such as vegetable seeds, irrigation systems, and greenhouses, and services with Dutch knowledge, skills, and technology. Holland Greentech wants to develop the next level of horticulture in Africa and therefore provides free services (training / technical visits) to the farmers they work with.

Skills

With skills in Business Development, Team leadership, Project Management, and External Relations I hope to contribute to bringing the horticulture sector of Benin to the next level. However, I believe when working in a country like Benin, flexibility is the most important skill.

Background

• Nationality: Dutch
• Education: BSc Economics and Business Economics, Erasmus School of Economics. MSc International Economics, Erasmus School of Economics. BA Philosophy of Science, Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Experience before YEP

• Project Assistant Francophone Africa, Netherlands-African Business Council
• Intern Team Africa, Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI)