Business

Haiti to Create Stable Environment for Business

PORT- AU-PRINCE, Haiti – A primary goal of the Haitian Government is to create an environment conducive for investors to come in and boost its struggling economy, according to Haiti’s Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis.

Addressing the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce 17-member delegation at his office in the capital on Monday, Mr. Alexis said that through revised laws, Haiti is trying to create the right incentives to attract investors.

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce is on a five-day mission to examine ways to form trade ties with The Bahamas through the Haiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Haiti is categorised as the poorest nation in the Caribbean. With a population of about 8.5 million its per capita income is stated at $400 or $5,300 per annum.


Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis of the Republic of Haiti addresses the delegation of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce at his office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on Monday, September 24 on the possibilities of trading between both countries.
(Photo: Bahamas Chamber of Commerce)

“We need to progress with the improvement of the living conditions of the vast majority of the people,” the prime minister said. “We need to put the accent on the issue of investments.”

Elected to office last February, prime minister Alexis spoke on how “stability” in Haiti has come about.

“This is the result of mobilisation by the Haitian people as a whole, because at the February 2006 general elections, there was absolutely no ambiguity about the vote, given though at some point (they) tried to steal the results of it,” the prime minister said.

He added that it was difficult in the first phase because the problem Haiti had at the political level with peace, adding that it wasn’t only the question of a departure of its former President Aristide, but also of the fact that the majority of Haitian people wanted to see things changing in this country.

Prime Minister Alexis said that the first approach was to end the distrust through dialogue with Haitians involved in violence and called on the national police to restore order in the country.

“This is how we could establish this new situation of security”, he said, adding that the situation is still a fragile one because the core of problem is the social and economic instability.

His Excellency Dr. Eugene Newry, the Bahamas Ambassador to Haiti said that there are two goals to the proposed arrangement: Haitian products shipped directly to The Bahamas and which projects Bahamian investors can realise in Haiti.

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce said some members of the delegation, after having met with business persons and toured establishments of interests, still have doubts as to whether any sustained trade arrangement could be derived at.

Philip Simon, executive director of the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce pointed to the importance of factors such as opportunities being identified, current investments coming in, business facilitation measures being expedited and bureaucracies being removed.

Chamber president, Dionisio D’Aguillar said based on what the group has seen so far, and the stability of the Haitian Government, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce is ready to do business.

“We have looked to the north now we have to look to the south. We are excited by what we see and it seems as if possibilities are endless,” Mr. D’Aguillar said.

Prime Minister Alexis said that his job is to create conditions for men and women in Haiti to become interested in agriculture.

In comparison to other Caribbean countries, he noted that Haiti is still a virgin country in terms of business development.

“With improvement of the situation at the political level and with initiatives undertaken by His Excellency Rene Preval in terms of building solidarity in the state I think that the conditions are being created to produce wealth and also to better distribute the fruits of this wealth,” the Prime Minister said.

He acknowledged Bahamians’ love for mangoes and called on both countries to work together to remove the restrictions to ensure that this produce is shipped directly to The Bahamas.

“In terms of food and agriculture production, there are a lot of economic possibilities, Prime Minister Alexis said. “We can even develop products aimed for The Bahamas; years ago we had a pretty fruitful trade between the northwest of Haiti and The Bahamas. There is the potential that exists.”

He regarded The Bahamas as “champions” in the tourism industry and that Haiti needs to import that service in addition to cultural and religious tourism, construction, financial services and other areas.

Related Articles

Back to top button