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Offline Flex

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Haiti wants trade, not.
« on: December 09, 2011, 05:34:40 AM »
Haiti wants trade, not aid
By SEAN DOUGLAS (Newsday).
Friday, December 9 2011


HAITI is open for business, declared Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe, as he met the media and business community yesterday at the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) headquarters in St Clair.

His message was that Haiti wants investment and trade, not aid. Opportunities abound for persons wishing to help in the rebuilding of Haiti from its 2010 earthquake.

Lamothe arrived at Piarco International Airport with Haitian President Michel Martelly who went to the Caricom-Cuba Summit at NAPA, Port-of-Spain. Lam-

othe briefly visited NAPA and then went to the ACS where he was met by ACS secretary-general, Luis Fernando Andrade Falla.

At the ACS, Lamothe declared, “I have some good news to tell you about Haiti, and about the future prospects of doing business there and investing there. I stand ready to welcome you very soon in Haiti.”

Newsday asked what Haiti can offer TT in trade and investment.

Lamothe enthused that Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) is one of the first TT companies to invest in Haiti. “An investment has just been made of over US$16 million into the cement (industry). They are about to start operations there,” said Lamothe.

“As you know, there is a massive reconstruction that is about to get underway in Haiti. From our own funds we are planning on investing US$468 million into reconstruction. From the reconstruction aid there is over US$1 billion that is coming in from different multi-lateral agencies and bilateral relationships that we have. We are pushing strongly for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) to come in...”

Haiti will dip into the PetroCaribe Fund to build a US$44 million public housing complex in northern Port-au-Prince, and to invest in the Haitian people.

“So there is a wealth of opportunities...Money will be used for many of these constructions that are going to be happening, so we are very excited about that.”

Lamothe saw artwork as a likely export item to TT.

“Haiti has a very large arts and crafts industry. We have a lot of that to export.”

Haiti also has agricultural products to export.

“Banana, coffee, mangoes — the Haitian mango is one of the best in the world, for my taste.” He wanted to link the 10 million population of Haiti to the markets of Caricom.

“There was a ‘Chubby’ soft-drink that was in Haiti and we encourage it to come back, as it is an extremely large market for that brand,” related Lamothe, referring to Trinidad-based SM Jaleel Co Ltd’s popular soft drink.

“We are here today to promote the investment opportunities in Haiti into the different sectors that I mentioned. I mentioned the sources of funds that will be used and we feel that it’s a great opportunity.

“Now is a very good time for the TT private sector and the private sector of Caricom and the ACS to come and take a look at these investment opportunities that we have.”

Lamothe said, “We are very, very serious about pushing Haiti as an investment destination.”

The country has wonderful beaches and has a new, democratically-elected government, he said.

He was optimistic that 200 years of political instability would be overcome by a “new investment climate” created by the new, pro-business government, comprised of many young Ministers who hold MBAs (Masters in Business Administration degrees). Companies going to Haiti will earn a good return on their investment, assured Lamothe.

“We have the whole world with their eyes on us, wanting us to succeed,” he said. “We are not asking for handouts but for investments.”

Lamothe played on Haiti’s Davis Cup tennis team in 1994 and 1995, runs the Global Voice Group that supplies telecommunications to the developing world, and was a 2008 nominee for Ernst and Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year”.
The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Flex

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T&T, Haiti sign US$30m energy deal
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2014, 06:38:45 AM »
T&T, Haiti sign US$30m energy deal.
T&T Guardian Reports.


Haiti is to benefit from a US$30 million investment by National Petroleum Marketing Company. This  follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between T&T and Haiti at the  Hilton Trinidad yesterday for co-operation inu energy, energy security and energy exploration.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said that the accord, which had been discussed over the past two years, represents a significant contribution to the development of a “fellow Caricom partner” still emerging from the effects of a powerful earthquake that killed an estimated 300,000 people and left more than a million others homeless in 2010.

“We are very happy that you will be sourcing our energy products rather than outside of the region,” she said noting that the agreement will help the energy companies continue to provide employment for locals in the energy sector. “By selling these products to you, you will continue to help us generate revenue to continue the employment of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and at the same time with our products coming into your country, duty free, it means your citizens will benefit as well.”

T&T will sell lubricants, diesel for vehicles, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) among other products. Haiti’s President Michel Martelly said he was pleased in “getting your products at a better price”. He said the agreement will also serve to “strengthen our relationship. “We have been brothers and sisters for a long time, but I think a complete project like this one was missing between our countries. NP is expected to open several distribution stations in Haiti as a result of the agreement.

NP chairman Neil Gosine said the plan was for the energy company to brand nine service stations in Haiti within the next few months to sell LPG and other products, including lubricants. He said a facility will be set up for bunkering and fuel storage.

State owned Petrotrin and National Energy (formerly National Energy Corporation) will also be involved in the project, Gosine added. Petrotrin Chairman Lindsay Gillette said his company was working closely with NP on the project and the first cargo should leave for Haiti in the next “couple of months.” Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine said National Energy is working with the Haitian Government to establish a port project.


The real measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out.

Offline Bakes

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Re: T&T, Haiti sign US$30m energy deal
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2014, 11:49:23 AM »
This is fantastic news, we need to do more to both engage and support Haiti.

Offline Tiresais

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Re: T&T, Haiti sign US$30m energy deal
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2014, 02:02:33 PM »
Agreed! I'm a little worried as to whether they can afford it though, but intra-Caribbean trade is a real positive step for the region as far as I'm concerned.

Offline Bourbon

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Re: T&T, Haiti sign US$30m energy deal
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2014, 03:35:12 PM »
It also has the benefit of opening out our market...something which historically has not been done..and efforts to do so have never been followed through. Good news indeed.
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