Economy

Recap of IDB Haiti Reconstruction Investment Forum Miami

MIAMI, USA (defend.ht) - The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) hosted the Haiti Reconstruction Forum held on Thursday, December 8, in Miami Florida. It was an investment forum to get U.S. private sector engagement in Haiti.

In this event sponsored by Miami-Dade County, Enterprise Florida and the IDB and hosted by County Commissioner, Haitian-American, Jean Monestime, representatives from the Inter-American Development Bank, the U.S. State Department and hundreds of members of the business community came to discuss current projects and business opportunities in Haiti.

“The focus for the Haiti Reconstruction Forum is to present the US business community with practical and actionable information about contracts, investments, and financing provided by the US Government directly or through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to assist in the rebuilding of Haiti”, said Gustavo Arnavat, US Executive of Inter-American Development Bank.

County Commissioner Jean Monestime said he was proud to host the forum as a Haitian American. He explains that this was an occasion to share information with the Diaspora on Investment in Haiti and the reconstruction process.

Gary C. Juste, Director of Office of Acquisition and Assistance of USAID, explains that this was an occasion for the American agency to meet with investors in US how they can implement projects in Haiti, “to guide them and show them the way”, he said.

Karl Jean Louis, Executive Director of the Presidential Advisory Council for Economic growth and Investment (TBC) said that Haiti was open for business and that information was available for businessmen who want to invest in Haiti. He informed that some laws to make investment easier were “pending”.

Mr. Jean-Louis added that Haitian Government was setting up a platform where the Diaspora is invited to share its experience in doing business. “It’s time for action”, he said.

“Many people present different plans for Haiti Reconstruction but few have something concrete”, said Dufirstson Neree, Senior Specialist, Private Sector Financing, IDB Country Office in Haiti, adding that IDB presented something concrete when financing enterprises in Haiti.

Some entrepreneurs interviewed by DH said there were many obstacles to invest in Haiti like the feeling of insecurity, the lack of structures for good business and some laws making investment difficult.

The Inter American Development Bank (IDB), the U.S. Government (USG), and the private sector play leading roles in the international community’s ongoing reconstruction and development efforts in Haiti. The IDB is the largest multilateral donor to Haiti and in 2010 approved ten major grants projects for a total of $251 million.

The IDB expects to provide Haiti with at least 200 million per year in grants for next decade. Key Project in the pipeline for Haiti include: Industrial Revolution 2, Montana Hotel Reconstruction, Northern Economic Pole Business Accelerator, Peligre Hydroelectric Plant, Transport sector Support, Education Plan and Reform.