PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Five Trinidad and Tobago business professionals have been named to participate in the 2017 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Professional Fellows Programme.

The US Embassy in Trinidad said the YLAI programme supports the United States’ commitment to increase trade and investment in the region by promoting a diverse exchange of culture, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

It said the five-week programme, sponsored by the US Department of State, will bring 250 young leaders from 36 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to the United States to augment their business or social venture plans, learn from US counterparts, and share best practices.

The Embassy said that Keron Bascombe, Kristle Gangadeen, Brent Eversley, Melissa Gabriel, and Ricky Bhowram have been accepted out of more than 3,000 applications to the YLAI Professional Fellows Programme.

“The fellows are business and social entrepreneurs engaged in start-ups, small businesses, non-governmental organizations, and similar entities focused on agriculture, clean energy, consulting, e-commerce, education, entrepreneurship development and support, food and beverage, health care, hospitality, LGBTI, marketing and branding, mobile applications, and women’s and youth empowerment.

The YLAI Professional Fellows Programme begins October 4 with a two-day conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

The young leaders then participate in four-week fellowships in cities throughout the United States, where host-businesses mentor and guide the fellows through an entrepreneurship curriculum. The programme concludes November 6–8 with a closing Summit in Washington, DC focused on leadership and skills development training.

“Fellows return to their ventures with new skills, resources, on-going support from US counterparts, and an improved network that strengthens business ties between the US and Trinidad and Tobago,” the Embassy added.