USSEC – MENA recently arranged training for a new generation of Saudi soybean buyers. Robert Bresnahan, president of Trilateral, Inc., spent four days providing intensive training for seven Saudi soybean buyers at Soybean Crushing Co. & Derivatives in Yanbo, Saudi Arabia.
Trainees were comprised of seven employees, four women and three men, all between the ages of 25 and 30. Participants were eager to learn all aspects of the U.S. and world soybean markets. Major topics covered were “How Value is Determined,” “Reading the Market to Determine Entry Levels,” and “Introduction to Futures and Options.” The trainees’ attention level was intense as the Trilateral training program includes student participation along with several quizzes. At the request of the students, Trilateral will build upon this training session through the exchange of emails. One participant stated that the training increased job satisfaction and morale among the trainees and should result in increased efficiencies in processes, resulting in financial gain.
Mr. Bresnahan traveled on to Casablanca, Morocco and met with animal feed manufacturer Alf Sahel where a full day of training was conducted. Alf Sahel was very interested in how to control the volatility of the U.S. dollar and alternate ways to purchase raw materials. The Moroccan dirham is closely linked to the euro and the strength of the U.S. dollar has increased the cost of feedstocks. Trilateral explained Alf Sahel’s inherent market position and explained how to utilize the tools currently available to hedge their risk through futures and options. All departments of the company from treasury to purchasing to manufacturing participated in the training.