Trade Watch V8 No 3 July 2014

INVESTMENT PROMOTION

Caribbean Export Contributes to CFI Donation

Caribbean Export continued its efforts to support the attraction of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through the provisionofofficeequipmenttoHaitianinvestmentpromotion agency (IPA), Centre for Facilitation of Investments of Haiti (CFI). The Agency made the presentation to CFI along with its funding partners the Delegation of the European Union in Haiti, the European Development Fund (BONFED) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Haiti on May 27, 2014 at the Centre’s headquarters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Deputy Director of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Programme at the sub-regional office of Caribbean Export, Yolette Azor, presented the donation to CFI General Director, Norma Powell on behalf of the Agency and its partners. Ambassador Javier Nino Perez, Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Haiti, together with Jean Edner Nelson, National Authorizing Officer (NAO) in Haiti for the European Development Fund (BONFED) and M. Frank LAORSE, Director of Foreign Trade from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Haiti were also in attendance. The CFI had been experiencing a negative impact on its productivity and efficiency due to lack of basic functioning material resources. As the Agency aims to compete with global IPAs and to satisfy the rigorous communication demands of the modern context, the lack of resources was identified as a major barrier. Constant communication and dissemination of information is critical to the evolution and success of IPAs, particularly in emerging markets such as the Caribbean. The donation, which has an approximate value of USD$50,000 and comprised of desktops, UPS, laptops, tablets, printers, scanners and portable projectors, is hoped to alleviate some of these challenges. The complement of technology is also intended to enhance CFI’s technological platform and the computer literacy of its staff in accordance with the standards of today’s industry. In particular, the initiative is specifically aimed at strengthening the department of investment promotion to be able to offer investors adequate services to facilitate the establishment and the expansion of FDI in the country.

From Left: Yolette Azor, Deputy Director of the Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational programme; Ambassador Javier Nino Perez, Head of the EU Delegation Haiti; Norma Powell, CFI Gerneral Director; and Jean Edner Nelson, NAO in Haiti during the ceremony

Deputy Director Yolette Azor giving remarks during the presentation ceremony

The donation of the equipment constitutes a part of the Trade Component of Caribbean Export’s Haiti-Dominican Republic Binational Programme, funded by the EU in the framework of the 10th EDF. The purpose of the programme is to facilitate cooperation between the public and private sectors of each country in order to strengthen trade, investment promotion, customs, and more generally, the private sectors of both countries”. (TW)

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5 Tradewatch • The Official E-Newsletter of the Caribbean Export Development Agency • Vol. 8 No. 3 July 2014