Business
Haiti open for business – Prime Minister Lamothe
Lamothe argued that his visit to Davos was a worthwhile venture that would bear fruit for his Caribbean country in terms of attracting investment.
He said he wants people to think of Haiti not just as a place to set up a charity but as a place to set up a business, and argued that corporations “can do equal or better than any large country for small Haiti.”
The prime minister called building up the tourism industry “a very high priority,” noting that a five-star hotel was already under construction and that new tourist police would provide security for visitors in a country with a turbulent past.
Haiti is expected to hold legislative elections this year, and the run-up could be fraught with political agitation and protests.
Haiti is still clearing the last rubble from the 2010 quake, which killed about 316,000 people. Another 350,000 Haitians are still living in impromptu camps. The reconstruction effort has been slow notably due to the level of devastation and the unfulfilled assistance pledges from donor nations.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press
