Wednesday in Cap-Haitien, the President Michel Martelly, participated in the launch of the Project of Strengthening of Local Business and of the Value Chain "LEVE", funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Mayor of Cap-Haitien, Jean Renaud, the Departmental Delegate North, Zéphirin Ardouin, of ministers Vanneur Pierre (Education) and Thomas Jacques (Agriculture), of Nonce Zephyr, the President of the chamber of Commerce of the North, Julie Lostombo, Director of Project LEVE, U.S. Ambassador accredited to Haiti, Pamela White, parliamentarians and representatives of the private business sector.

The LEVE Project aims at increasing economic growth and employment opportunities in the country. It will have to xpand job opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises in the areas of development, such as Port-au-Prince, St. Marc and Cap-Haitien. LEVE will also improve the competitiveness of key sectors such as construction, garment and textile and agro-industry, explained Julie Lostombo.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce North, welcomed the implementation of this project in the second city of the country. An initiative that according to him "will be used in the recovery of the Haitian economy."

For his part, U.S. Ambassador Pamela White, welcomed the launch of this project, which will allow to improve the living conditions of the Haitian people and create new economic opportunities for the most vulnerable.

President Michel Martelly thanked the U.S. government for this fruitful cooperation and expressed the belief, however, that it would be good that Haiti's partners establish a partnership with state institutions in order to strengthen them to act better on the ground. He also stressed that this project is an essential element in the fight against food insecurity, in knowledge transfer and institutional strengthening.

In the afternoon, the President Martelly accompanied by Pamela White, visited the factory of Vaudreuil and participated in the evening in which were invited the farmer beneficiaries of the Project AVANSE https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8838-haiti-agriculture-$87-5mm-for-agricultural-development-in-the-north.html also funded by USAID in the North ou country.

HL/ HaitiLibre