Saturday, at the end of VIII Petrocaribe Summit, held in Managua (Nicaragua), 28 and 29 June, the Heads of State and Government of more than a dozen countries, members of the Venezuela's Petrocaribe oil alliance, agreed to focus their efforts on strengthening exchanges in regional transportation, communication, agriculture, tourism and social service projects. The trade agreement is not entered in the details and no change in the existing oil agreements Petrocaribe was formally discussed.

"The journey has been very encouraging, in short order we have organized the essential components of a Petrocaribe Economic Zone (PEZ)," declared Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro "Petrocaribe is a guarantee of economic stability and is now the basis of the social and economic union, integral of 18 countries [...] with which we build this formula of cooperation, of solidarity and fraternity."

President Martelly has no doubt that Haiti can integrate PEZ "I do not need to talk about products that are already ready such as Barbancourt rum, cola [...] Currently, with the Ministry of agriculture we are identifying the sectors. Instead of paying to Petrocaribe money we owe him [Petrocaribe Haiti's debt amounts to nearly a billion dollars], we will invest the money into the Haitian economy to allow farmers to operate..."

For his part, Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, explained tha the Venezuela's proposal to receive food as payment of the debt, will enable Haiti to invest in the agricultural sector by guaranteeing to farmers the purchase of their products. While recognizing that Haiti is not yet ready for export food, the Head of Government remains confident "[...] everyone will get to work to produce for export. This will generate employment in the country and give a new impetus to the economy and the peasant sector..."

Joint Statement by the Head of State, Michel Martelly and Prime Minister, Laurent Lamothe, on the sidelines of their participation in the Petrocaribe Summit.

Speech of President of the Republic Michel Joseph in the 8th summit of Petrocaribe.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8906-haiti-news-some-news-here-and-there.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8890-haiti-economy-8th-petrocaribe-summit-in-managua-nicaragua.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8873-haiti-politic-petrocaribe-finance-94-of-the-haitian-public-investment-projects.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8866-haiti-politic-official-visit-in-haiti-of-venezuelan-president.html

S/ HaitiLibre