business - Haiti Observer Blog

The Haitian Minister of Culture, Jean Mario Dupuy celebrated the Lakou Soukri kings on the occasion of Guedes, the traditional festival in Haiti. This is just two months after returning to Gonaives from his visit to Lakous.

Mario Dupuy Marks His Presence

Shella Tanisma, the Empress and Marie Carme Delve, the servant, welcomed the Minister as per the rituals. Mario Dupuy stated that his presence amongst the people was a testimony to his commitment to the Republic's President, Michel Martelly, the government and Laurent Lamothe, the Prime Minister and that it demonstrates how important voodoo religion was in Haiti.

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Moise Garcon, a Haitian businessman, media coordinator, and activist in social- movement organizations, is about to be included in the latest edition of the high-profile and socially-prestigious WHO'S WHO publication. Moise Garcon has completed his studies in journalism, media communications, and marketing analysis. He is currently working on his dissertation and preparing for his orals as a pre-doctorate applicant in leadership skills within corporate culture.

Moise Garcon's accomplishments in political, social, cultural, and civic organizations are impressive. He is a member of no less than nine social-advancement groups, among them Black Alliance, NAACP, UNESCO Center for Peace, and SEQUOIA. He markets an upbeat image of his country as a founding member and Director of the Haitian Diaspora organization, Ayiti Demain. His work ethic and dynamism in this group has resulted in Ayiti Demain being invited for the first time to the Socio-Economic Summit of Haitians 2012, in Atlanta, Georgia.

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Starting a business is never easy as it requires time, effort, and expertise. As it is the case with many other communities, many start-up Haitian businesses fail even before they reach the first-year mark. Those that managed to operate for more than a year, on the other hand, find it a real challenge to get past the five-year mark. More often than not, most Haitian businesses fail within five years, except for those being kept on life support.

This is my advise to my Haitian friends, if you are planning to open a business, you should know the reasons why entrepreneurs fail in order to avoid the same mistakes. One of the common reasons is the lack of proper planning. Before setting up a business, it is necessary to come up with a plan involving all aspects such as finances, management, location, services and possible problems and solutions.

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The past few years have been very promising for the island country of Haiti, despite the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that occurred about three years ago. It is actually one of the fastest growing economies in the region, thanks to the recent efforts of the Haitian government and the international community.

In a recent report published by the United Nation's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Haiti will be the leading and fastest-growing economy in the Caribbean in terms of GDP growth which is projected to increase by 6% by the year 2013. It was also supposed to be at the number one spot for 2012 with an initial estimate of 6% growth earlier in the year, but was decreased to a 2.5% growth by the ECLAC, as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), due to the bad effects of the major storms that hit the country this past year. Back in 2011, Haiti's GDP grew by 5.6%.

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Digicel, an active partner with the government of Haiti (GOH), held its annual award presentation ceremony to recognize outstanding contributions and achievements of entrepreneurs. Eight awards were handed out at the event with 700 attendees, among them GOH officials and representatives of the private sector.

The top-award recipient, Haitian entrepreneur Lionel Pressoir, received awards in two categories. He won the coveted "Digicel Entrepreneur of the Year 2012" in addition to the "Digicel Education, Tourism, and Culture" award.

Pressoir won for his involvement in reviving the Haitian tourism industry. He started Lojistik SA to create tailored travel packages to incentivize travelers to come to Haiti. Before his involvement in the tourism industry, Pressoir successfully set up two apparel companies that hired 650 employees. In addition to his business activities, he established Foundation Destination Haiti to support non-government organizations helping in the country's reconstruction efforts.

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A month commonly chosen for closing out a business is January and if you are keen on making purchases then a few tips for going out of business sales will need to be considered. If the tips are followed then a good amount of money can saved. The first and foremost thing to do is start shopping early. When the discounts offered are huge, the sales are higher.

A lot of items get sold out and the items that are left behind will not be of very good quality. It is on the floor samples that the best deals are offered. You will need to check if it is worth the bargain basement price it is available as it is available in an open box. Once the product is purchased, you are stuck with it.

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GB Group has become the first multinational company in Haiti to have over 360 service stations. This happened when the Haiti-based company's Energy division acquired Chevron's fuels marketing and aviation businesses. The acquisition involves the businesses in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica's St. Maarten.

Under the acquisition deal, the GB Group now has control over some 220 retail service stations that Texaco Brand operates. The deal also involves airport refueling operations and fuel terminals.

GB Group chairman Gilbert Bigio welcomed the deal, calling it an "important milestone." He added that the acquisition is a huge part of the company's plans to develop the local market, as well as grow globally. The transaction really goes well with GB Group's goals and vision, Bigio said. The chairman also shared that the acquisition is a golden opportunity that everyone in the company has been awaiting. It is known that since its establishment in Haiti in 1896, GB Group has been taking measures and initiatives to expand not only in Haiti but also in the international market. And the company's takeover of Chevron's divisions is a testament that GB Group's efforts are not going down the drain.

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The Central Directorate of the Judicial Police (DCPJ) arrested Clifford Brandt, a businessman and entrepreneur, accused of kidnapping two youths, Coralie and Nicolas Moscoso. They were abducted on Bourdon Road. The kidnapping laid bare a network of abductors, who have been targeting victims for abduction for many years.

The arrest occurred on October 16, 2012 by the Cell Against Kidnapping and Criminal Brigade of the Haitian National Police (HNP). Five other suspects connected to the abduction were also taken into custody.

The abduction network has spread to the HNP. Senior command police officers and inspectors, past and present, have been implicated in abduction plots across Haiti. In particular, Inspector Edner Comé is being actively pursued, considered armed and dangerous.

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Haiti's history has seen more or less constant upheaval from 1804, up to the recent past. Survivor of 32 coup d'etats, provisional governments, and natural disasters, the most recent set-back was the 2010 earthquake. Port-au-Prince, still a mass of rubble, has 350,000 Haitians living in tent cities today.

The Government of Haiti (GOH) is working non-stop to attract foreign investment and get its economy restored. Many development banks, non-government organizations, and investment initiatives are funding projects to rebuild Haiti. One of the richest investment resources is the Haitian Diaspora. Made up of law, education, medical, science, and information technology fields, it is a bounty of resources Haiti needs to fully recover from its destruction.

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Your appearance is always important when it comes to business. Keep in mind that the way you dress can affect people's impression on you. This is why knowing the proper way to dress at work is essential if you want to project a certain professional image.

Many Haitians deal with businessmen around the globe and it is important to earn their respect. In order to do so, dressing properly and behaving like a professional can actually further your career in the country.

People working in the rural areas in Haiti tend to dress more casually than those in the urban parts. The dress code for both areas might be slightly different but one common thing is that shorts are not allowed in the business world. It is best for men to wear a pair of slacks, a shirt and a tie. Women, on the other hand, can go for a blazer and pants suits or skirt.

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