Five Haitian companies from various sectors are exploring business opportunities in the Dominican Republic, a trade mission that seeks to formalize, strengthen and balance bi-national trade.
This was stated by Klara Kanska, head of the commercial section of the European Union delegation, who explained that the objectives are to increase Haitian exports to the country and the promotion of a more balanced trade between both nations.
Kanska said in the activity, which is part of the Binational Cooperation Program in favor of relations between the country and Haiti, also aims to boost the potential that the border provinces have.
“We have two decades working to strengthen trade between the two nations. More formal and transparent trade would contribute to a greater balance and would not only benefit economic operators but also institutions and citizens,” he stated.
Among the Haitian companies that presented their proposals are Caribbean Bottling Company, which intends to sell juices and tea in the country, BHP Industries, dedicated to the manufacture of household cleaning products and food, Huhsa, which manufactures oils and detergents, a textile company and a handicraft company.
The Haitian trade mission will meet with different chambers of commerce in the country, including that of Puerto Plata, to which they presented their proposal this Friday via digital platform. The chambers of Barahona, La Vega, La Altagracia and Samaná are also included.
The diplomat stressed that Haiti is one of the main destinations for Dominican exports.
She cited among the challenges presented by the binational trade dynamics the strengthening of national productive structures, the promotion of exports and the improvement of technical capacities, both of public and private organizations, specifying that it is important to work on quality and phytosanitary standards.
In addition, the rapprochement between ministries, customs collaboration between the two countries and the strengthening of public-private dialogue.
Lidia Encarnación, Director of Regional Cooperation of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, added during the event that one of the main objectives of the bi-national program is to promote a more balanced trade between both countries.
Meanwhile, Lorenzo Ramirez, director of the Dominican Institute for Quality (Indocal), stated that this institution has been working together with the Haitian Bureau of Standards for technical exchange and added that they are working on a web portal for the availability of all sectors.
