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United States Ambassador applauds official HOPE proclamation by President Bush for Haiti

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Bush announced this week (on March 20) Haiti’s eligibility for new trade preferences under the Hemispheric Opportunity through Partnership Encouragement (HOPE) Act which was passed by Congress in December 2006.

The Act provides additional trade preferences, focused for now on apparel and automotive parts, to those already in effect through the Caribbean Basin Initiative.

The President’s announcement signals a new beginning for the Haitian economy and the Haitian people. HOPE’s passage, and its implementation going forward, are the result of exemplary cooperation between the private and public sector.

I salute the efforts of all those involved in bringing HOPE to fruition, particularly the Government of Haiti and the business community, and look forward to seeing the results of this collaboration making a difference.

HOPE is one part of a broad-based reform effort undertaken by the Haitian government, the private sector and the international community to better serve the people and improve their daily lives.

The key to Haiti’s future lies in its readiness for economic competition and development. Many factors, such as infrastructure, customs and border protection, the strength of critical government institutions and public security, are essential to realizing a better tomorrow for the Haitian people and a more attractive investment climate.

The United States will continue working closely with the Government of Haiti to support these key structural reforms, and encourages the private sector to leverage the opportunities provided by trade preferences, to help bring businesses back to Haiti.

The United States is proud to continue supporting a strong, productive partnership between the government and business leaders in pursuit of economic development.

Bilateral trade totaled more than US$1.3 billion in 2006, and the American people provided over US$600 million in assistance to Haiti from 2004 through 2006, making the United States Haiti’s largest trade partner and donor.

In addition, more than US$1.1 billion in remittances were sent to Haiti from the United States last year.

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