The young Haitian-Panamanian and Inter-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (CCHPIC) created in July 2022, inaugurated on Sunday January 15, 2023 the first direct commercial flight Port-Prince / Panama City (after 12 years of suspension), as part of the implementation of the "Visa Tourist Purchase" program.

A delegation of 43 tradespeople left Haiti for Panama. During their one-week stay, in addition to commercial operations, they will meet Panamanian officials and entrepreneurs around the strengthening of trade between the two countries.

Before the resumption of direct flights between Port-au-Prince and Panama City, Haitian tradespeople had to transit through the Dominican Republic, an expensive route that endangered their lives due to insecurity on National #3 (road of Malpasse).

Marie Yanick Mezile Lhérisson President of the CCHPIC explained that this project had been launched three months ago to allow Haitian tradespeople to go directly to buy in Panama, from Port-au-Prince to Panama City. She also thanked the contribution of the Panamanian authorities who supported the CCHPIC in the implementation of this special program.

The Panamanian authorities plan, via the CCHPIC, to grant more than a hundred visas to these Haitian economic actors, who will be able to make the trip every fortnight, according to program officials.

Ms. Mezil stressed that this trade will be bilateral, specifying that Haitian traders should soon take with them goods from Haiti to Panama. Emphasizing "Panamanians need our products. We want containers to leave Haiti full and vice versa. This is where we are headed."

TB/ HaitiLibre