Today, the Ouanaminthe Municipality hosted a Development Coordination Workshop that brought together local leaders from civil society and the private sector, representatives of the Government of Haiti and decision-makers from the Inter-American Development Bank, the European Union, the United States Government and other key partners involved the development of the Northern region.

Mayor Rony Pierre of Ouanaminthe introduced "Ouanaminthe 2016 and Beyond." The plan outlines the community’s development priorities, including health services, education and vocational training, agriculture and environmental stewardship, while placing a premium on fostering private sector investment.

Counselor and Chief of Staff Cheryl D. Mills and Ambassador Kenneth Merten spoke on behalf of the United States. They underscored the United States Government’s continued commitment to the development of the Northern region and importance of partnership with local stakeholders.

IDB Representative Felipe Gomez-Acebo presented the IDB’s investments in the region with an emphasis on education, the environment, including improving water distribution and sanitation, and promoting the growth of the private sector. The European Union’s Representative Benoist Bazin highlighted its commitment to infrastructure projects that will improve the integration of towns in the region and transport networks with Haiti’s capital and central region.

Ouanaminthe is home to Grupo M’s CODEVI industrial park. Over the past seven years, CODEVI has created thousands of jobs in Ouanaminthe.  Currently employing 6, 500 Haitians and with the potential to increase to 15,000 in the coming years, CODEVI is a major contributor to the social and economic development of northeastern Haiti.

HL/ HaïtiLibre