On May 8, 2025, as a prelude to a roundtable with the private sector, Laurent Saint-Cyr, Presidential Transition Advisor, held a strategic meeting with the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Far North region. This meeting was attended by Ms. Martine Laroche Cuvilly, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the West (CCIO), and Jean Nathan Letang, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CCIH).

During this meeting, entrepreneurs from the North region had the opportunity to express their expectations and concerns. They also identified promising projects and explored concrete solutions to improve connectivity, competitiveness, resilience, and attractiveness in the Far North region.

The day before, during a bilateral meeting with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), Ilan Goldfajn, Advisor Saint-Cyr had advocated for a structured partnership between the government, the private sector, and donors. He emphasized the urgency of strong support for the private sector and the need to recapitalize businesses weakened by successive crises. This support would help generate jobs, particularly through development projects with a strong social impact, and foster sustainable growth at both the local and national levels.

Saint-Cyr emphasized the importance for the IDB of investing in strategic infrastructure, vocational training, and skills transfer. He underscored the need to avoid the mistakes of the past and prioritize the creation of dignified, sustainable, and large-scale jobs to combat poverty and insecurity, while restoring hope to young people. He called for serious and lasting collaboration to build a better future.

The presidents of the Chambers of Commerce present welcomed the holding of this meeting, considering it a strong signal of the government's evolving stance toward the regional private sector. They saw in this the beginnings of more inclusive governance, based on active listening, strategic consultation, and Councilor Saint-Cyr's concrete commitment to equitable development, adapted to local realities, and supported by strategic partnerships.

The departmental Chambers of Commerce reaffirmed their firm commitment to fully contributing to the success of the Transition projects.

Participating in this meeting were : Steve Astrel Mathieu, President of the North Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Diony Pierre, President of the Northeast Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Jordan Herard Verdule, President of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Ms. Martine Laroche Cuvilly, President of the West Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Jean Nathan Letang, President of the South and Haiti Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

HL/ HaitiLibre