Business & Finance

It is common to give out business cards during business meetings in Haiti. As a matter of fact, it is very helpful for your business if you always have cards to present to your clients. This way, they can have your contact details all the time.

There's no definite method or process in exchanging business cards but it is advisable to give your card at the start of the meeting. Carrying a small folder to keep the business cards you receive can also help you make a good impression. One thing to remember when dealing with business cards is to treat the material with respect. Avoid folding it and keep it safe from tears and scratches. You should also not write anything on the card. While it is not required, it is better to use one side of the card to translate all the information into French. Of course, you should not forget to include all the vital information in the card, including your name and the name of your business, as well as your address and the contact details. The card wouldn't serve its purpose if any of these information is missing.

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Business negotiations among Haitians can be loud and dramatic. This is because Haitian professionals enter into negotiations head on. They are animated and they do everything they can to get the best deal. As a matter of fact, it is common for Haitians to haggle over almost everything that involves money.

Some Haitian professionals tend to act as if they were offended by the offered deal so that they can negotiate the price. More often than not, the one that dominates the negotiation proceedings win. Haitian businessmen are also not used to using direct words and sentences to convey their thoughts and feelings. They usually make use of parables to express what they want. This is why foreign business people have to be patient when dealing with Haitian professionals. Otherwise, it could lead to conflicts. The use of harsh and offensive language during negotiations will never produce good results and this is why both sides should avoid it.

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There might come a time that you will have dinner with Haitian clients or business associates. When this happens, make sure that you know the table etiquette that Haitians carefully observe. Remember that Haitians take dining etiquette very seriously because it is an honor for them to invite people to their table. What more if you are dining with business partners and clients, right?

First of all, do not go to a dinner and social event in a casual dress. Make sure to dress properly. Avoid wearing jeans and rubber shoes. Instead, show up in a semi-formal attire. If it is a high-end event, make sure that you follow the dress code. In case you do not know the dress code, it is advisable to ask the hosts rather than show up in just about any attire.

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Haiti has welcomed public figures, including British business tycoon Richard Branson, at the grand opening of the Caracol industrial park. Branson, an airline business magnate, joined United States Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton in launching the $300-million industrial park located in the city of Cap Haitien. The park, which was a project of South Korean apparel company Sae-A Trading Co. Ltd., spans 246 hectares.

With the Caracol industrial park, the country's job market is expected to improve in the coming years. As a matter of fact, more than 60,000 jobs will likely be generated when companies and businesses start operating in the park. Though critics are doubtful that the multi-million project can end poverty in the country, officials are confident that it would be the start of a real progress. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton urged everyone, including the investors, business partners and Haitians, to work together to ensure the project's success. She said that the project requires a collective effort in order to produce the best results.

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Opening ceremonies for Caracol Industrial Park (CIP) occurred on October 22, 2012. Michel Martelly, President of Haiti, hosted some of the biggest backers of northern Haiti's first industrial park, projected to eventually produce nearly 200,000 jobs. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, along with her husband, President Bill Clinton, presided over a crowd of investors and celebrities.

Haiti, the U.S., and the Inter-American Development Bank have donated a combined total of $464 million over the next six years. Other foundation and business donors are contributing to the development of Haiti's infrastructure.

Secretary Rodham-Clinton spoke before a lunch reception crowd. She told them that contributing to the sustained economic health of Haiti goes beyond sending relief aid to the earthquake-damaged island. On-going private investment in the infrastructure and economic initiatives to provide Haitians a better quality of life are key to raising Haiti out of its failed-state status. She said that although CIP was already in the planning stages before the 2010 earthquake shattered the country's infrastructure and economy, already feeble, the Obama administration has placed Haiti high on its priority list. The U.S. has followed through with a $124 million investment in CIP.

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Oswals Brandt is one of the historical rich elite of Haiti. He traces his origin in Jamaica. He was born in Trelawny, a parish in Cornwall County in northwest Jamaica.

Born on October 20, 1890, Oswals Brandt is son to John William Brandt and Esther Mathilda Becker.

He got married to a woman by the name Therese Barthe who bore him six children.

Oswald Brandt has great importance in Haitian history. His and others like; Madsen, Lacombe, Gardere, Mevs and Bigio have remained to be the richest families in Haiti.

He was an enabling factor in the establishment of several things in Haiti. It is believed that the rich of his days worked together with the US government to bring a revolution in Haiti.

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Despite Haiti being the poorest of poor countries, it has a percentage of very rich elite who control the economy and the governance of the country.

In such a difficult social economic environment, the few wealthy families live in a class of their own; tiered, Malibu-style homes above in the hills of Port-au-Prince.

In the 1980's reports show that the upper class in Haiti constituted of 2 percent of the total population. However, the 2 percent controlled about 44 percent of the total national income.

Though the elite percentage is small it has the biggest share of the economy. The top six richest families in Haiti are: Madsen, Brandt, Lacombe, Gardere, Mevs and Bigio.

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With the weak economy and poor living conditions in Haiti, many women, including teenagers, have settled to becoming prostitutes just to earn. Prostitution is illegal in the country but this does not stop women from getting paid for sex. Since the 1940s, prostitution rings have been active in the country and it only got worse as time went by and catastrophes hit the Caribbean nation.

According to a report in 2005, Haitian children were being trafficked in the Dominican Republic, where they were forced to work as slaves or prostitutes. Many of these children were orphaned, while others can no longer be supported and fed by their parents. As a result, they are brought to the Dominican Republic and sold to families and individuals looking for a child laborer. There were reports that the trafficked children have been physically abused too and some were so traumatized they can not recall how they got to that situation.

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Haiti has finally reached the point where the country could not go any further. The Island country of Haiti has been ranked as the poorest country in the entire world.

For a population of 10,123,787 people, 77 percent of the Haitian population is poor, the highest in the world. Its GDP is $7.35 billion (66th lowest) and per capita, the GDP is $726 which is 22nd lowest.

The world bank remarked that more than 50 percent of the Haitian population live on less than $1;00 a day and close to 80 percent of Haitians in Haiti lives on less than $2.00 a day

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To get a free giveaway online, you will need to furnish some information of personal nature. Everything comes at a cost, in some way since no one offers anything absolutely free. While collecting some stuff online in the form of freebies there are certain ways which you could remain anonymous. It feels good to get freebies, but you will need to be a bit cautious about this.

A great idea would be is open an email account that you can throw away later. This will help in reducing the extent of spam. The account can be opened from Hotmail or Yahoo. If junk mail is to be received then a separate PO Box can be used for the purpose. An online offer will be made and you will be requested to complete it. This could entail getting some magazines free of cost, online for a few months.

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