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"This is the devilish thing about foreign affairs, they are foreign and will not always conform to our whim." James Reston |
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Location and Area: Western part of the island of Hispaniola with an area of 27,750 square Km (10,714 square miles); 50 mi. east of Cuba; 800 mi. southeast of Miami
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Official Languages: Creole, French
Population: 6.75 million with a growth rate of 1.8% per annum; 95% African descent, 5% mixed
Government: Republic type of government with a President directly elected by the people; a Prime Minister designated by the President from the majority party in the two-chamber Parliament, or in the absence of a majority, in consultation with the legislative leadership. President, H.E. René G. Préval (1996-2000); Prime Minister : Post vacant (December 1997).
Currency: Gourde; US$ 1 = Gdes 16.75 (September 1997)
GDP: Gdes 4,312 million; annual rate of growth; +5% (projected 1997)
Minimum Wage: 36 gourdes per day
Time Zone: EST; GMT-5
Climate: Temperature is warm, ranging year-round from 70-93° F in the coastal regions, and 50-75 in the mountainous areas; rainy seasons are April-May and August-October.
Highways: The highway system includes 4,050 km (2,515.5 miles) of roads; 950 km (590 miles) paved; 950 km (590 miles) otherwise improved; 2150 km (1,335 miles) unimproved.
Ports: Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haïtien are the two major ports. Other ports include Miragoâne and St. Marc.
Airports: Maïs Gaté International Airport in Port-au-Prince; served by the following carriers: ALM, Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, COPA, Haiti Trans-Air, Halisa Air, Air Jamaica
Telecommunications: 55,000 telephone lines; 49 AM/FM radio stations; 5 television stations in Port-au-Prince (cable television from Canada and the United States is also available); 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station. {To call Haiti from the United States dial : 011 (Access Code) + 509 (Country Code) + Local Phone Number (6-digit number).}
Energy: Three electric plants serve the Port-au-Prince area. Their installed capacities are 141 Megawatts, but their actual production is 50 Mw. Haiti uses a 110 Volt, 60 cycle system.
Trade: The United States is the main commercial partner of Haiti. It accounts for about 60% of the flows of exports and imports. Primarily Haiti exports coffee, mangoes, sisal and essential oils, while it imports petroleum products, foods, beverages and fats. For the fiscal year of 1992-93, exports (FOB) and imports (CIF) total respectively US$88.30 million and US$181.50 million.
Good Reasons to Invest in Haiti
A Country Committed to Free Enterprise
The Haitian Government is committed to a free-market system. It guarantees to all persons and corporations involved in business in the country the following rights and privileges:
Free disposal of their properties;
Freedom to hire and fire in accordance with the provisions of the Labor Code;
Freedom to engage in commercial and industrial activities within the limitations of the Constitution and the Commercial Regulations Code;
Protection of trademarks, patents, labels, and all other forms of intellectual property rights;
Minimal intervention by the State in the market: Government regulated prices are reduced for five products and services including: oil, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and the minimum wage.
Furthermore, Haiti has signed treaties and conventions with many industrialized countries, in order to reciprocally protect foreign investments: with the United States in 1953 and 1983; France in 1973 and 1984; Germany in 1975, and Canada in 1980.
A Country Open to Foreigners
In order to operate a commercial enterprise in Haiti, foreigners need four basic documents:
Residence Visa: an applicant presents his/her request in person or by mail to a Haitian diplomatic or consular mission abroad which transmits it to the Ministry of Interior via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The applicant will be notified of acceptance or denial of his/her request within two or three months. If the applicant is introducing his/her request in Haiti, he/she must contact directly the Ministry of Interior;
Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Social Works following submission by the applicant of his/her passport, residence visa, job offer and a receipt from the Tax Office (Direction Générale des Impôts);
License from the Tax Office (Direction Générale des Impôts);
Registration Certificate from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Find out more about Haiti by clicking HERE
Return to the Foreign Aid/Affairs/Defense budget by clicking HERE
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