Last week MTI hosted a workshop to inform the Trinidad & Tobago business sector on the opportunities available in the reconstruction of Haiti. The workshop entitled “Reconstructing Haiti: Opportunities for the Trinidad and Tobago Business Sector” featured key addresses by Minister Stephen Cadiz and the Honourable P. J. Patterson, CARICOM Special Representative to Haiti and former Jamaican Prime Minister.
Held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, the workshop served to encourage local businesses to explore business opportunities in four priority sectors which held the greatest potential in the rebuilding of Haiti: construction, agriculture, food and distribution and professional services. Representatives from these sectors were present to discuss the challenges and options available in Haiti for their respective sectors so that those interested in investing in these areas would have a better understanding of what lay ahead for them. Carol Ayoung, CEO, Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), was also present to discuss the role of the private sector in the Haiti reconstruction effort.
In addition to benefiting Haiti and the businesses investing in that country, the reconstruction should also have a positive impact on CARICOM by allowing meaningful relationships to be built between the Haitian business sector and other CARICOM business sectors, as well as improving the relationships among the business sectors within CARICOM, according to the Honourable P.J. Patterson.
In the same vein, the Honourable P. J. Patterson held a meeting with Minister Cadiz and Permanent Secretaries from several ministries to examine ways in which the Government of Trinidad and Tobago could assist in rebuilding government institutions in Haiti which were severely affected by the earthquake with 17% of the public service staff being lost. Of critical importance at this time in Haitiwere the Ministries of Works, Planning and Development, Housing, and Revenue.
As most of you already know, Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12th 2010 which left more than 200, 000 dead and over a million homeless. Six months on Haiti is still struggling to cope with the devastating effects of this natural disaster.
Photos from the Reconstruction of Haiti Workshop and the Hon. P.J. Patterson's Meeting with Government Officials
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