Friday October 9, 2026 marks an important step in the commitment of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MCI) to strengthening the university entrepreneurial ecosystem, with the official launch, at Quisqueya University, of the Support Project for Entrepreneurial Innovation and University Startups (AIESU).

This initiative aims to bring about the emergence of young innovative companies, capable of creating value and sustainable jobs on the national territory, thus contributing to the revival of the Haitian economy.

In his speech, Minister Monazard highlighted the role of the State in promoting innovation and the development of entrepreneurship. "The State, on its own, cannot do everything, but it has the duty to show the way, to create the conditions and to bring together the actors. A Haiti that invents is a Haiti that produces; a Haiti that produces is a Haiti that trades; a Haiti that trades is a Haiti that creates jobs, retains its talents and regains confidence in itself," affirmed the Minister.

In this perspective, he invited industrial companies to submit their issues to students, researchers and academics, in order to encourage the orientation of their work towards the concrete challenges of the Haitian economy. This approach aims to bring the university environment closer to the productive sector and to make innovation a lever for economic development.

Monazard also spoke about the infrastructure put in place to make this vision a reality. 'The incubator established at Quisqueya University, as well as the one whose inauguration is planned very soon in Les Cayes, in the South department, constitute the first concrete manifestations of this vision. However, we intend to go even further by setting up other incubators in different regions of the country, with the aim of providing each of the ten geographic departments of Haiti with an incubator." https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-47255-towards-the-creation-of-8-university-incubators-in-haiti.html

Roberto Augustin, representing the Director General of MCI, insisted on the need to create an environment favorable to the creation and sustainability of young businesses. He reminded us that a good idea, no matter how promising, is not enough to guarantee the success of a business. Young entrepreneurs also need adapted support, technical skills and mechanisms enabling them to transform their ambitions into concrete achievements.

Freud Miguel Renaty, the National Coordinator of AIESU, presented this ceremony as an important step in the implementation of the project, which is now moving from the technical phase to the operational phase. He recalled that the university must not only be a training space, but also an environment conducive to the creation of businesses, innovation and the development of new economic opportunities. "A country does not develop only by its capacity to produce, but also by its capacity to create and innovate," he stressed, adding "by giving its youth the means to showcase their know-how, a country prepares its future."

Jacky Lumarque, the Rector of Quisqueya University, welcomed this MCI initiative, believing that it represents an opportunity to strengthen the entrepreneurial capacities of young people. He expressed the hope that this program will help provide better prospects for Haitian youth in his country, allowing them to realize their ambitions and actively participate in national development.

Note that as part of the AIESU pitch competition https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-48611-pitch-competition-with-quisqueya-university.html , 20 projects were selected by the members of the jury to constitute the first cohort of beneficiaries of the support intended to promote their development and realization.

Through the AIESU, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry intends to strengthen the links between the academic world and the productive sector, support the emergence of innovative businesses and encourage Haitian youth to transform their ideas into economic activities that create value and jobs, thus contributing to the revival of the national economy.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-48611-pitch-competition-with-quisqueya-university.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-48183-haiti-call-for-expressions-of-interest-project-to-support-entrepreneurial-invention-and-startups.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-47255-towards-the-creation-of-8-university-incubators-in-haiti.html

HL/ HaitiLibre