ARTICLE - MARTELLY - LAUNCHING OF CCPI

MARTELLY OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED THE CCPI IN NEW YORK
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, launched, Tuesday, officially in New York, the Conseil Consultatif Présidentiel pour l’Investissement (CCPI) [The Presidential Investment Advisory Concil]. This visionary approach of President Martelly, which consists in putting on the same floor personalities of a high level from the whole world around a common interest; the prosperity of Haiti, and marks a historic turning point in the development efforts of the country.

"This is an Advisory Council composed of eminent and experienced personalities in business management and public affairs, expected to accompany the President towards the emergence of a planned economy and able to respond to the basic needs of the Haitian people," as so well described Ms. Michaelle Jean, the former Governor General of Canada in her speech at the Palace Hotel on Wednesday in New York.

"Haiti is open for business,"” said an enthusiastic President Martelly. "We are ready for new ideas and new businesses, and are creating the conditions necessary for Haiti to become a natural and attractive destination for foreign investment."

A launch dinner was held Tuesday, in the presence of key members. President Martelly congratulated the Council members for their historic commitment. On Wednesday, the CCPI held its first working meeting ... All members who spoke, have confessed their pride in being part of such a movement, which has many resources to achieving its objectives.

CCPI members who spoke during the opening session were :

The Nobel Prize of Peace and Economics, Dr Mohammed Yunus,

The entrepreneur and star of hip-hop, Wyclef Jean,

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Perival James Patterson,

CEO of Digicel, Denis O’Brien,

The Mayor of Montreal, Gerald Tremblay,

The UNESCO Special Envoy for Haiti, Mme Michaelle Jean,

Former President of Colombia, Alvarez Uribe Velez,

The Chief of Cabinet of President Clinton, Laura Graham,

The Senior Advisor to the President and Co-President of the Council M. Laurent Lamothe

Most of the Advisory Council members, which includes eight former heads of state, five CEOs of multinational companies, and a Nobel Prize recipient, among other leaders, stressed their personal commitment to bringing investments into Haiti and creating jobs. 'We are all greatly indebted to Haiti, from a social and democratic perspective. When Colombia’s independence was in doubt, Haiti was of great support. Now, Haiti needs concrete demonstrations of support and the will to help the country move forward,' said former Colombian President, Alvaro Uribe.

"Somebody has to put the first foot forward and the President has done that by taking concrete steps to make it easier to do business. Haiti is ready to move forward," said Haitian Grammy-winning artist, Wyclef Jean.

Laurent Lamothe, co-chair of the Council outlined the tremendous untapped opportunities in housing, tourism, construction, agribusiness and virtually every other sector in Haiti. "For those investors worldwide who may be looking at Haiti with interest, but are ‘waiting to see,’ let me say: The window of opportunity is now. Haiti has a new President and a new way of thinking about foreign investments and job creation as powerful engines for economic growth".

Denis O’Brien, Chairman of Digicel Group agreed: "Haiti is at a crossroads, at a new beginning, with new leadership and political stability. The opportunity to bring in foreign direct investment into Haiti has never been better. Major new foreign investors have announced new projects that have the capacity to transform the country. I would encourage people to strongly look at Haiti and the opportunities for investment."

For his part, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Council member, who also started a Social Business Fund for Haiti right after the earthquake, remarked that this initiative has the possibility of transforming the country: "After the earthquake there was a lot of money that poured in, but these monies will not solve the country’s problems. However, social businesses will not only turn a profit but will actually solve the country’s problems."

President Martelly, the First Lady, Ms. Sophia Martelly and the President's advisers continue to campaign in New York; doing their best to channel private investment to Haiti for economic recovery.