Willy Mulimbi Byamungu, a Fulbright scholar and current graduate student in agricultural economics and agribusiness in the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, will be a panelist at the Trade with Africa Business Summit 2018 on May 11. Mulimbi Byamungu will share his field-based experience of the relationship between farming activities and trade, discussing sustainable agriculture and the role of trade in incentivizing African farmers.

Mulimbi Byamungu is an agriculture and development professional from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who earned his agronomist engineer degree in crop production at the Université Catholique de Bukavu. Mulimbi Byamungu has 15 years of experience working in rural communities with smallholders' farmers, farmers' groups, government institutions, and a diversity of national and international organizations and research institutions.

Due to his extensive experience in the design and implementation of food security, environment, and agriculture integrated programs, Mulimbi Byamungu was invited to the Trade with Africa Business Summit 2018 held in Bentonville, Arkansas on May 10 and 11. Designed to increase awareness of mutually beneficial commercial opportunities between African and U.S. businesses, this annual event serves as a platform for business leaders to develop partnerships to drive economic growth. Discussion topics include sustainable agriculture, global trade, digital acceleration, health inclusion, education, and women's empowerment on the continent of Africa. 

Upon program completion, Mulimbi Byamungu plans to return to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to improve the sector of agriculture and development research and further advance entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

For more information on the business summit, please visit www.tradewithafricabusinesssummit.com.