Bahamas Chamber of Commerce Seeks Trade Ties with Haiti:
By Lindsay Thompson Bahamas Information Services -
Nassau, Bahamas:

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The Republic of Haiti, the first Caribbean nation to achieve independence in 1804, is ready for a rebirth, a chance to rebuild its economy with the help of The Bahamas.

This can be accomplished through a sustained trade arrangement between both countries, an idea 10 years in the making.

The purpose of a four-day fact finding mission organized by the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, and the Centre for Investment Facilitations (CFI) is to form such ties.

Since Sunday, September 23, the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and some of its members have been with perspective business partners and toured various establishment to examine possible trade arrangements aimed at boosting both economies, particularly Haiti’s.

The mission ends on Thursday, September 27.

The Bahamas is represented in tourism, fisheries, construction, financial services, agriculture, technology, souvenir manufacturing, textiles, clothing, and other general services.

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce is represented by Dionisio D’Aguillar, president; Philip Simon, executive director; and Winston Rolle, a past president. The Bahamian delegation is being facilitated by The Bahamas’ Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, His Excellency Dr Eugene Newry.

Haiti is located about 750 miles from Nassau and has been trading with The Bahamas since the 1800s. With an estimated eight million people, it is considered the poorest country in the Caribbean. However, the country’s Chamber of Commerce is optimistic that the negative perception of the island nation can change through sustained trading, hence keeping Haitians at home instead of risking their lives on the high seas in search of a better way of life.

The feeling is that Haiti can learn from The Bahamas’ expertise in tourism and services; and also build partnerships in agribusiness, heritage tourism, small hotels development and other areas.

At a press conference held in the VIP Lounge of the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Mr. D’Aguillar said The Bahamas’ decision to invest in Haiti stems from the fact that a reported 50,000 Haitians live in The Bahamas, resulting in very close ties being formed.

Also, The Bahamas incurs millions of dollars on exports from Haiti. However, once a shipment of mangoes and avocadoes leaves Haiti, it goes to Miami, shipped to The Bahamas and sold for $4 each.

Ways were discussed to package the abundance in mangoes as 56 per cent of fruit rot on the streets.

"Haiti is very much an emerging market in the sense that your Government is perceived to be stable and things are falling into place to make Haiti a very attractive place to invest in," Mr. D’Aguillar said.

The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce plans to form similar arrangements with Panama, the Dominican Republic and Brazil.

"The time has come to do business in a structured and organized manner," said Frantz Marceau Louis, international consultant in project development and management.

He suggested that this can be done by developing an efficient transport service to facilitate the transshipment of goods to The Bahamas.

"In Tourism, Haiti has not had the vibrant industry as it would like to have. But Haiti has the historical wealth which can turn over the minds of investors," Mr. Louis said.

Mr. Louis also said that not long ago, the name Haiti meant "instability". But The Bahamas would not seek interest if there was not a change in the political and economic climate created since the Rene Preval presidency began in May, 2006.

A cooperation agreement was to be signed between the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti on Monday, September 24.

26 September 2007