The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)reports that it has allocated over USD 300,000 to Haiti as a grant for a two-year project aimed at enhancing business activities in the country. This funding comes from the European Union through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility, part of a broader initiative to uplift economic conditions in the Caribbean region.
The entire Standby Facility managed by the CDB has a total budget of €8.75 million, which is aimed at supporting trade and economic growth across 15 Caribbean nations. Of this, Haiti will receive a significant portion specifically to help strengthen its business framework.
According to CDB’s Vice President of Operations, Mrs. Therese Turner Jones, “Under the Capacity Building for Strengthening Quality Infrastructure Project, we’re signaling our continued support for the Haitian Government’s macroeconomic stabilisation initiatives; and also strengthening economic growth and poverty reduction prospects.”
The project focuses on enhancing the Private Sector Development and Competitiveness in Haiti—an area reportedly in need of urgent support. The Caribbean Community Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), will act as the managing agency for the project, bringing its expertise in standards and quality to improve Haiti’s business landscape.
The initiative aims to improve the National Quality Infrastructure (NQI) in Haiti. NQI encompasses the standards and structures necessary for facilitating trade and business development, ensuring that, down the line, consumers are protected.
During the implementation phase, CROSQ will collaborate with Haiti’s Bureau Haitien de Normalisation (BHN), which is part of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Their work will primarily involve improving business facilitation and ensuring that companies adhere to quality standards by the direct implementation of changes and improvement of practices.
The CDB reports that the entire project was initiated based on challenges articulated by BHN, which highlighted issues related to training, necessary equipment, and the promotion of its services. With the backing of the European Union’s financial resources through the CDB, there is potential for Haiti to gain significantly from this project.
CDB’s Acting Director of Projects, Mr. L. O’Reilly Lewis, emphasized the importance of the initiative by stating, “The planned interventions will focus directly on building capacity within BHN to enable it to be better able to provide critical services to its stakeholders. Our partners at CROSQ will work with the national body to strengthen Information Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure and capabilities.”
Ibo France. look at the country called Haiti on the map. compare to Haiti. How many times can Dominica fit into Haiti? You need to understand that Port au Prince is not the whole of Haiti. Many Haitians have never been to Port Au Prince. This massive land is divided into comunes North (Nord), South(Sud), Central (Centre) etc. Whilst media makes person believe that the whole of Haiti is in turmoil, it is not. There are functioning governments in the provinces. yes the main government in the Capital has issues. Nothing has changed in the other provinces. There have cultural events and other events in the outside areas. There are International Airports in Jacmel and Cap Haitian in the North, Antoine Simon, Jeremie etc., amongst others. The media and countries have successfully fed us with propoganda about Haiti being poor. The people do not allow anything down their throats so the victimizatíon by most notably DR. Haiti is not poor. Drama in Port au Prince & environs
How could a country without a functioning government star to benefit from funding of any financial institution? This will be like trying to fill a bucket with water tat has no bottom.
Haiti is presently in it cal upheaval. The violence and Chas must be halted and peace should reign before any other thing.
CARICOM erred badly when the ‘Eminent Three’ decided not to engage the gang members/rioters/agitators in peace talks. How silly? You have to take to or negotiate with your enemies if you want peace. CARICOM is not fit for purpose.
I hope that the warring factions will meet at the negotiating table, expound on peaceful ways of ending the bloodshed, and restore Haiti to a shining light.
Wow, you are spot on, with your comment, which I have always believed, quote, “CARICOM erred badly when the ‘Eminent Three’ decided not to engage the gang members/rioters/agitators in peace talks.” I also think that CARICOM was just manipulated by the forces that sought to keep Haiti in perpetual poverty dividing the people from which they benefit.
Now when I hear CDB’s Vice President of Operations, Mrs. Therese Turner Jones say quote “we’re signaling our continued support for the Haitian Government’s macroeconomic stabilization initiatives; and also strengthening economic growth and poverty reduction prospects.” this silly script or language is resembles something from some Think Thank. I would like to ask Mrs. Turner how much the CDB stands to make from the €8.75 million acting as a middleman and overseers dispersing these funds on behalf European Union through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility.