Bill Clinton at the head of an Agricultural Investment Delegation

Former US President Bill Clinton acts as the United Nation's special envoy to Haiti. His duties have taken him on two trips to the country so far this year. First, in January, he came for the 3-year anniversary of the devastating 2013 earthquake, which took place shortly after his tenure started. His latest visit, a two-day event that consisted of site visits and a donation announcement, on March 10 & 11 saw him accompanied by a nearly two-dozen strong delegation of potential investors from the restaurant, perfume and lingerie industries.

ADVERTISEMENT


During his visit, he spoke about the controversies and misfortune faced by the country, but stressed that Haiti is still replete with 'staggering potential.' It's a sentiment also expressed by Haitian President Michel Martelly who's 'Haiti is open for business' slogan was designed with luring potential investors from around the world in mind. While they are optimistic about foreign investments being the key to rebuilding Haiti, analysts at home and abroad warn that the country's flawed justice system and its archaic banking practices don't instill confidence in investors. Further concerns are the advisories by the U.S. government that warn potential visitors about concerns of health, security and a lack of proper infrastructure.

President Clinton announced a $700,000 donation from the Clinton Foundation that will fund the training of farmers, the planting of trees and the creation of a coffee farm, to aid the development of the agricultural sector.

He visited the Gonaives Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) site, a Heineken brewery--where the company announced a $40 million plan to expand and give aid to sorghum farmers-- and toured the coffee processing plant at Café Rebo and schools of agriculture.

Reply to this article

Read more: Gonaives, Bill Clinton, Investment, Agriculture, Coffee Industry, Coffee, Banking, Donation, Agriculture and Food

« Haiti, the fifth-largest importer of American rice | Main | New Bwe Kafe Coffee Shop opened in Washington Street, Hoboken »

Return to Articles List

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

E-mail (required, will not be published)

Subject: Bill Clinton at the head of an Agricultural Investment Delegation edit

» »

Our objective is to share with you news and information about Haiti and the people of Haiti. Traditions, habits and the way we were  or  grew are alive in this site. We highly recommend that you Subscribe to our Newsletter and also share with us some of the things that are memorable and made us unique people.