Wilson Laleau, the Minister of Trade and Industry, has proceeded officially Thursday at the launch of general census of business and industry. 500 young people, 10 for each of 42 arrondissements of the country will be recruited as interviewers, to which will be added 42 supervisors. This initiative [which will cost the state 26 million gourdes] is part of project of mapping of businesses of country and also aims to implement support programs for these companies.

"[...] For the first time, the Haitian government will launch a large-scale business census [formal and informal] that exist on the territory. I think the reason is clear for everyone [...] today, it is only the companies that are identified in the system that have access to credit, who have a accompaniment [...] if they need to sell or export in certain markets.

For example, if a person who makes mamba, the product does not meet standards, it will be unable to sell it on all markets...

For the State can assist them, he State must know these companies where they are and what they do. This is why we are launching this census to identify companies, allowing us to define a policy to accompany them. Because traditionally the reports of enterprises with the State, it is only when they have to pay taxes, but apart from that... the State neither seen nor heard.

If we do not have precise information about these companies, we will not succeed to manage and control the trade sector and encourage entrepreneurs to invest in the country. They are initiatives like this that will guarantee and ensure massive job creation as desired by the administration Martelly-Lamothe. This approach will be very beneficial to the Nation," declared the Trade Minister.

Mr. Laleau has also indicated that this census, which will extend over a period of two months, will begin on September 3 in the departments of West, North and South. He also took the opportunity to explain that there has never been a mechanism to enable the State to provide assistance to entrepreneurs in the country. The census, he insisted, will allow the Ministry of Commerce to make a real job of quality control of products, through the offices of standardization and of methodology and of laboratory that he intends to implement in the coming months.

HL/ SL/ HaiïtiLibre