HAITI: BAHAMIAN INVESTMENT 'TOP PRIORITY'
(Nassau Guardian) - By Jeffrey Todd
Haiti is targeting up to $600 million in foreign investment next year and according to its trade ambassador, The Bahamas has a tremendous opportunity to get in on the action.
The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employers Confederation (BCCEC) invited dignitaries from Haiti to a conference in Nassau yesterday to discuss prospects between the two neighbors. Gregory Mevs, Haitian ambassador for trade and investment, stressed that the rebuilding nation wants greater partnership with Bahamian companies. Whether it be expertise or direct investment, he said Haiti is open for business.
"There is a special relationship between our nations. We can no longer look at normal trade or investment. Traditional partnership will continue. What we need is to trade more with each other," Mevs told Guardian business.
"We need to diversify our trade and our source of investments, and be more global players. The Bahamas can play a big role in certain industries in Haiti."
After picking up the pieces of the devastating earthquake in 2010, the Caribbean nation continues to push forward in aggressive national development. Last year, Mevs said the country attracted $100 million in foreign investment. This year, Haiti is setting a "modest" goal of $300 million, with up to $400 million or $500 million in its sights, according to the ambassador.
Meanwhile, Mevs believes direct foreign investment of $600 million in 2013 is indeed possible.
Haiti is offering a variety of incentives for foreign businesses, including a 15-to-20 year exemption from income tax.
There is also no capital gains tax or stamp tax.
"If we work together, in a bottom-up approach, as one Caribbean, we can become a region that is much stronger," he said.
The BCCEC has remained vocal concerning collaboration between the Haitian and Bahamian economies.
In fact, Chester Cooper, the chairman, has called for the end of the embargo on agricultural goods, arguing the food bill for both countries can be drastically reduced if the proper safeguards are in place.
"The Bahamas government should put in place its own inspection protocols and expedite the removal of these restrictions. Ending the embargo will not only reduce the cost of Haitian products imported into The Bahamas and improve trade, but taking it to a logical conclusion, it might help the Haitian economy and our relations with Haiti by improving commerce," Cooper explained.
While Mevs acknowledges these particular opportunities he highlighted the importance of the construction sector as well. There are over 10 million Haitians in the country, he noted, and the economy is posed to grow five per cent each year.
Mevs described The Bahamas as being more of a "knowledge" economy, and Haiti has a surplus of land and a large population.
"In tourism, Haiti is spending a lot of money on infrastructure in the north on airports, and terminals for cruise ships. And we need hotel rooms. We need everything. And we need people to train Haitians in this industry," according to the ambassador.
The third sector ready for growth is financial services, including insurance, which went "belly up" after the earthquake.
Mevs emphasized that the two countries do not have "competing interests", and the future will be brighter if the nations work together.
Attracting investment from The Bahamas is a "top priority" for Haiti. Yesterday's conference brought up a number of possible avenues for investment, including everything from technology services to fish farming.
In the end, Mevs and the BCCEC hope engagements like these will spark more citizens to push the button of economic partnerships.
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