Following the assessment of the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) for the textile sector https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26479-haiti-economy-summary-challenges-and-perspectives-of-the-textile-sector.html , the ADIH presents a partial assessment of the National Production, sector employing more than 20,000 people, without counting thousands of indirect jobs resulting from the synergy between the local companies that supply inputs and services and the production companies.

Achievements and Opportunities :

The National Production sector continues to lead the fight against smuggling. To this end, a delegation from the Washington-based Center for Strategic International Services (CSIS) met with some members of the ADIH working in the sector to assess the situation, particularly at the border. This delegation will submit a report to the Haitian authorities shortly, with the appropriate recommendations.

In addition, several local companies started exporting their products. Among them, HM group exporting pasta, "Caribbean Food Manufacturing" exporting Corn Flakes and SHAISA which exports ketchup and tomato paste under the label "Madame Gougousse".

The cultivation of the local millet that is used to make Malta by the BRANA has increased. The National Brewery has trained a total of 16,000 farmers for the production of millet which is now of much better quality and whose yield per hectare has improved a lot.

Challenges :

The request was made to the Government to increase taxes on imported products that compete with those manufactured in Haiti, but this approach has not yet succeeded, which has slowed the growth of local production. A revision of the tax scale is to be considered for the protection of the local industry. However, without a brake on smuggling, the incentives resulting from a tariff adjustment will have no effect.

In addition, the request for customs facilitation for local companies is also pending, it would have allowed to clear on the spot their inputs and raw materials as well as their machinery and equipment. This customs facilitation, which is applied to export factories, would greatly help local industries that are well established and well established.

Outlook for 2019 :

The fight against smuggling and tax evasion will continue in 2019 despite the strengths to the contrary, because this scourge is losing many tax benefits to the Haitian state and endangers national security.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-26479-haiti-economy-summary-challenges-and-perspectives-of-the-textile-sector.html

HL/ HaitiLibre