ACS promotes trade and investment with Haiti

(Port of Spain, January 9th – 12th 2012) The Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States, His Excellency Luis Fernando Andrade Falla, visited Haiti on the invitation of the President of Haiti, His Excellency Michel Martelly, from January 9th – 12th 2012.

The Secretary General was also accompanied by a delegation from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate Business School, headed by the Executive Director Miguel Carrillo.

The Secretary General exchanged talks with President Martelly while at the inauguration ceremony of the University of Limonade in the north of the country. The President of Haiti announced his country’s intention to host the V ACS Summit in July 2012. This Summit will gather business leaders from across the region with the aim to generate trade and investment in Haiti.

The Government of Haiti also expressed its willingness to offer the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate Business School the opportunity to manage the University and open a graduate business school in the country. During his stay the Secretary General met with many high level officials. Among them, the Minister of Trade and Industry with whom he had two meetings concerning ACS matters, the Minister of National Education, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as well as other prominent businessmen. He further held dialogues with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss cooperation with the ACS.

In preparation for the ACS Summit, the Secretary General and the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate Business School announced that they will host a conference during the next two months in Trinidad, to make the local business community aware of the trade and investment opportunities in Haiti. The theme of the conference will be ‘Role of Haiti in the development of the Caribbean.’

The Secretary General Andrade Falla then accompanied the Haitian delegation to Guatemala to highlight ACS programmes and initiatives for the region as well as attended the inauguration ceremony of the New Government of Guatemala.