Clinton Foundation in Haiti

Facilitating Private Sector Investment in Haiti

President Clinton and the Foundation have continued to work alongside the government of Haiti to foster economic development and job creation and improve the business environment. The Foundation has continued to support the Center for Investment Facilitation, providing pro-bono consulting support through an initiative with NYU Stern and Booz & Co Consulting. The Foundation has also worked to promote small and medium enterprises in Haiti, bringing in new investors and partners and working to facilitate access to new markets.

In 2011, the Government of Haiti launched the Presidential Advisory Council on Economic Growth and Investment and pledged increased support for the Center for Investment Facilitation. These bodies will work to improve the investment climate in Haiti, attract new potential investors and track new investments to ensure that progress is made efficiently. President Clinton serves as co-chair of the Advisory Council, working alongside eight other former heads of state, as well as leaders of industry and international development experts, to develop strategies for ushering in new investment and economic growth and support the government as they make Haiti truly open for business.

To support this effort, the Clinton Foundation Haiti team helped facilitate more than 85 investor and donor missions to the country. These groups ranged from hoteliers and energy company executives, to donors supporting education and water initiatives to potential investors in the Caracol Industrial Park. Of the groups/individuals that visited Haiti with the Foundation, the large majority chose to invest or explore further investment opportunities or to contribute financial or in-kind support. In November 2011, the Clinton Foundation co-hosted the second Haiti Investors Conference with the Government of Haiti and the Inter-American Development Bank. More than 1,100 Haitian and international investors registered, with 479 international attendees representing 32 countries.

In 2012, the Foundation was pleased to help facilitate the ground breaking of the new $45 million dollar Marriott/Digicel hotel in Haiti. Since 2011, the Foundation has been working closely with Marriott and Digicel to help the companies move forward with initiatives to ensure local procurement and a Clinton Global Initiative commitment providing $1 million dollars to analyze and improve the tourism sector in Haiti.

Photo credit: Jesus Serrano / MINUSTAH