Monday, President Michel Martelly, accompanied by the Ambassador of Mexico in Haiti, José Luis Alvarado, paid a visit to the National Society of Industrial Parks (SONAPI).

In the presence of Wilson Laleau, the Minister of Trade and Industry, the head of state attended a presentation of the new expansion plan of the SONAPI prepared by the leaders of the industrial park. In his presentation, Bernard Schettini, Director General of the SONAPI, insisted on the accompanying of the Mexican Ambassador to Haiti and the willingness of the Head of State in order to double the capacity of the Metropolitan Industrial Park (PIM) and at the same time increase the number of jobs.

This expansion plan will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will include construction of 4 buildings of 10,000 m2, while during Phase II, 6 or 7 additional buildings will be constructed explained Bernard Schettini. For his part, Ambassador Jose Luis Alvarado confirmed that Mexico had agreed to disburse the 20 million dollars needed for the completion of the first phase.

As part of a plan, Bernard Schettini indicated that steps had been taken by SONAPI, in order to recover more than 50 acres of land belonging to the Industrial Park, currently occupied illegally in order to build the first four buildings in the space of six months. These buildings will accommodate new businesses and create in the first phase nearly 4,000 new jobs. Note that the new SONAPI complex and that of Caracol, hosts companies specialized in textiles, which account for over 88% of export earnings of the country (about $800 million).

In addition, the President Martelly stressed the possibilities for Haiti to attract investment in this sector and reminded that Haiti should have adequate facilities that meet new demands of space as they occur. The Head of State informs that he had already instructed the Ministry of Commerce and the President of the Board of Directors of the SONAPI to work with the Park management authorities, to make him recommendations on the possibility of mobilizing safe resources for the development of the PIM.

With his team, the President Martelly wants to move from 12.000 to 24.000 the number of jobs at the Metropolitan Industrial Park "It is in this context that I'm accompanied by the Ambassador of Mexico during this visit and on behalf the Haitian people, I extend my warmest thanks, through Mr. Ambassador, to the President and people of Mexico."

HL/ HaitiLibre