I just saw your comment today. The Garnet Group, a technology consulting organization, has ongoing initiatives in Haiti, including in the water sector. If you father is still interested in getting involved, please forward a copy of his resume along with a note telling us what specifically his interests in Haiti are and in what capacity he would like to be involved. Hope to hear from him soon.

8/26/10

The “Promise of Haiti” is a vision of the former French jewel of 200 of years ago, once the world’s wealthiest colony. Wealth built based on slave labor which consistently turned out generous bounties of sugar, rum, rice, coffee and cacao among other goods; - And the subsequent fight for independence gained through a slave revolt in 1804. The “Promise of Haiti” is also Haiti’s unfinished plight towards economic independence and self-sufficiency, the need for dialogue, inclusive engagement and the importance of the ever present partnership between the International Community, Haiti and the newly arrived players on the scene, - the Haitian Diaspora.

Haitian-Americans hope the US Government is finally listening

The representatives of our U.S Government, Haiti’s 10,000 Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and potential investors should remember that Haiti indeed holds great potential and even greater opportunities, - as well as undeniable responsibility for those that would be financing Haiti’s rebuilding/reconstruction efforts and for those who would benefit economically from its plight.

Haiti represents great economic opportunities

In spite of the challenges Haiti consistently faced over the recent past, Haiti is has the second lowest crime rate in the whole Caribbean, represents 58 % of the CARICOM markets and needs practically everything.

Haiti does not have to be a consistent victim

The post- January 12th earthquake highlighted Haiti’s unenviable place as the poorest state in the Western Hemisphere. The fact that Haiti now imports 80 % of its food, even though 70% of its labor force works directly in the agricultural sector, that 50% of Haiti’s annual trade deficit stemmed from imports of sugar, rice and poultry/egg and yet represent foods that Haiti can grow itself.

The sugar, rice and poultry/egg industries have seen the direct loss of 891,000 jobs as a result of Trade Programs implemented 20 years, - yet still have existing, viable and operational mills and companies merely in need of investments for capacity expansion and optimization. These industries and actual existing companies can contribute towards food security, job creation and introduce affordable and accessible green energy/electricity.

Haiti has Second Lowest crime rate in the whole Caribbean

In the City of Léogâne, warehouses used to overflow with bags of coffee and cotton and beans for local distribution and exports. Trains of sugar cane used to pass through plantations en route to the HASCO, the then sugar processing plant located in Port-au-Prince, - now closed for some 20 years. And this all actually happened a mere 30 years ago.

“The Promise of Haiti” is about Private Sector Development, Investments and Initiative

Haiti does not have to be, nor remain a welfare state. That Haiti, - with aid and remittances, the right political will, financial and technical assistance, Haiti could successfully become a viable and self-sustaining economy again. The Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce and Haitian-Americans present an alternative option other than the one implemented for the past 20 years by Haiti’s international actors, for which Haiti can show nothing.

“The Haiti Private Sector Program

The “Promise of Haiti” reiterates long-term Haitian economic success tied to the creation of partnerships between viable financing partners and responsible investors willing to develop inclusive business models that are simultaneously profitable businesses and businesses able to benefit all parts of the value chain. The implementation of a Haiti Private Sector Initiative to include Small and Medium Business Enterprise (SME) Program is a direct response to nearly non-existent financing/credit, lack of investment funds, and limited small/medium business entrepreneurial development, the traditional backbone of a viable economy.
A Haiti Private Sector Program will encourage INNOVATION and OPEN COMPETITION to benefit the overall Haitian economy. For example, such a program will contribute to job creation resulting in local market expansion. The Program will capitalize viable business operations negatively affected by the earthquake to allow [businesses] to reopen and to rehire, while also providing credit/financing to contribute to capacity expansion, encourage New Business Investments and long-term Economic Self-Sufficiency. The Program should also recognize that genuine Haitian Economic Recovery includes a focus on:

? Public-Private Partnerships (or PPP's)
? Agricultural Development
? Renewable Energy Development (to include agricultural/energy nexus)
? Rebuilding/Reconstruction post-earthquake
? Security and Health (not addressed in this paper)

Blue-Print Solutions: The Haiti Private Sector Program to JUMP-Start the Haitian Economy

1. Fast-tract Project Financing/capitalization of foreign investments in Haitian and of viable local companies
2. Facilitation of U.S. and foreign business [investment] establishment in Haiti
3. Provision of adequate and affordable credit towards capacity expansion for local companies
4. To streamline International (IDB, OPIC, IFC, EXIM, etc…) loan application to funds disbursement process from the current average of 8 months to 30 - 60 days in partnership with local Haitian Banks.
5. To adopt/adapt and to implement the example of the Export/Import Bank’s successful partnership with HSBC Wells Fargo outsourcing strategy to Haiti.
6. To work with on-the-Ground US and Haiti firms towards Reconstruction/Rebuilding Haiti in partnership with the Government of Haiti (GOH).
7. To assist the GOH to address, streamline and fix the bureaucratic challenges detrimental and discouraging to foreign investments in Haiti

The Program should consider specific solutions, interests and/or projects for Fast-Track Implementation to meet Haiti’s immediate needs; And to allow the necessary timeframe needed towards the adequate design, planning and implementation for medium to long term economic solutions that will best benefit Haiti as a whole.

To jump-start the Haitian economy, the Program should prioritize enterprises with existing assets and sustainable economic activities to leverage for expeditious return on investment. Loan beneficiaries will contribute towards a synchronized expansion of local market oriented activities. The result will gain economies of scale and synergy by combining all value chain to support Haiti's market activities

The Haiti Private Sector Program should be implemented immediately. Priorities should be afforded to Agricultural/Reforestation/Conservation, Rebuilding/Reconstruction to include Infrastructure and Renewable Energy sectors to create the foundation towards the building of a healthy economy, with optimum opportunities to create jobs, contribute to food and energy security, to redress the dismal state of the environment and to simultaneously raise the standard of living and encourage foreign investments.

The Private Sector Initiative will serve to implement long-term economic development and build on existing stability established by President Preval with the contribution of NGOs. The suggested solutions fit together or can be applied independently to pave the way towards a diversified economy and economic self-sufficiency.

The Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce (NY and Florida), the forum for continued engagement and dialogue on Haiti progress and development.