In the context of improving the business and investment climate between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, a meeting was held in Port-au-Prince between Haitian government officials concerned by trade and economic issues, and a delegation from the Dominican Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MICM).

At this important working session, the speakers of the two countries agreed on common actions to be taken to strengthen communication channels, decrees or resolutions in bi-national trade, in order to avoid potential trade conflicts of a bilateral character.

At the meeting, the Haitian authorities and MICM directors and technicians also agreed to launch a web portal that would provide up-to-date relevant information on trade agreements, training on database management and cross-border trade, market research on the viability of certain agricultural products for export and by subscription of arbitration pages and other subjects of bilateral importance.

The Dominican delegation, composed of the Director of Foreign Trade, Marcelo Salazar; Technical Coordinator Karina Mañón and representatives of Caribbean Export organized a luncheon with Haitian businessmen who expressed their interest for the Haitian government ratify the Caribbean-European Union (EPA) Economic Partnership Agreement, taking into account the examination of certain conditions.

It should be recalled that this agreement, of which the Dominican Republic is already a member, establishes a free trade zone between the signatory countries to gradually eliminate quotas and tariffs. Among the advantages of this agreement are the simplification of import and export procedures and regulations as well as business opportunities between the signatory countries and the European Union.

The day ended with the Dominicans at a dinner with the presence among others of the vice-governor of the BRH and the President of the Chamber of arbitration of Haiti in the field of the investment where it was question notably of the approval of the legal framework for conciliation and arbitration for both countries.

SL/ HaitiLibre