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Dieudonné JOACHIM, Le Nouvelliste, June 9, 2009
Haiti is officially becoming the host country for the X Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean, and signed this Tuesday the Memorandum of Understanding between the Minister of Trade and Industry, Marie-Josée Georges Garnier, and the Secretary- General of the ACS, Luis Fernando Andrade Falla.
“Even with difficulties, the Haitian market, one of the biggest in the region (with approximately 10 million people), represent important business opportunities. This forum is a window for the Haitian government to let its neighbours know about its economic performances and know more about the opportunities the country has”. These were the words of the Secretary-General of the ACS, indicating that the investments from here or there were evidence of the trust in the country.
«If the forum is aiming at promoting trade, investments, exchange of knowledge among business leaders of the Greater Caribbean, at the national level, the objective is to position Haiti on the business market, to improve its image and allow it to better integrate within CARICOM, CARIFORUM and other regional and international institutions» Ms. Garnier stated, as she understands that reaching these goals requires that throughout the organisation process, responsibilities are shared between the ACS Secretariat and Haiti, and its public and private institutions.
«This forum to be held from 22-25 October 2009 at the Hotel Karibe, on the theme «Building partnerships in the Greater Caribbean» is part of the efforts undertaken by the government to generate business to boost national production and therefore contribute to the creation of wealth, jobs, and the overall improvement of the living conditions of the population», Ms. Garnier further stated.
The organisation of this forum in Haiti is the outcome of a decision taken at the Special committee for Trade development and external economic relations of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), for Haiti to be the host country of the tenth Business Forum of the Greater Caribbean in 2009.
This tenth edition will provide spaces for round tables on promising issues and business meetings and conferences. A fair will also be held so that companies in the region showcase their products and production processes.
Almost 120 companies from all over the region participated in the 9th edition of the Forum in Aruba, from 23-25 September 2008. The Business Forum was created to widen and strengthen trade relations among member States and Associate members of the ACS, at the 2nd ACS Summit in Santo Domingo in 1999.