On Monday, a delegation composed of 31 French companies including 20 from overseas departments (Antilles), began a mission of exploration and encounters with international organizations and donors in the country. This mission will continue until Friday.

These French companies come presenting their expertise in areas as diverse as construction, urban development, water and sanitation, support for the agricultural sector, equipment and health services, education, ICT and services, before crossing a second step towards direct investment in Haiti, explained Jean-Pierre Gastaud, Head of economic Department of the Embassy of France in Haiti and in Dominican Republic.

"The mission supported by Haitian partners comes also inquire about opportunities to participate in the reconstruction and economic development of Haiti," indicated Gregory Brandt, President of the Chamber of Commerce Franco-Haitian, noting that French companies will work and will accompany their Haitian partners, often too weak in resources and equipment to win alone the calls for tenders for reconstruction projects," stating that these companies come accompanied, and not replace, the Haitian businesses.

The opening of the activities under the theme "Meeting with organizations and international donors, actors andpartners public/private in Haiti" took place on Tuesday morning, 25 November in the presence among others of the Ambassador of France in Haiti, Patrick Nicoloso and Fred Constant, the Ambassador for regional cooperation in the West Indies and French Guiana zone "It is for me a very large operation to see thirty French companies come here to explore business opportunities. This is something very positive that I welcome," declared the Ambassador of France.

Jean-Pierre Gastaud, and Grégory Brandt, gave a presentation on the theme "The Haitian market and the local context". The presentation of actions, projects and needs of donors and international organizations in Haiti are provided by the European Union, French Development Agency (AFD), the World Bank (WB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The second part will be devoted to panel discussions on the construction, water and sanitation, Information Technology and Communication (ICT) and energy.

SL/ HaïtiLibre