On Thursday, November 6, 2025, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), in partnership with the Regional Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Haiti and the United Nations system, organized a new session of the Private Sector Engagement Forum for Reducing Community Violence in Haiti at the Karibe Convention Center (Pétion-ville).

The forum was held in the presence of Frinel Joseph, Presidential Advisor; Pedrica Saint Jean, Minister for the Status of Women; James Monazard, Minister of Commerce and Industry; Yvener Neptune, Coordinator of the Task Force; Ms. Greetanjali Narayan, United Nations Representative in Haiti; Marie Goretti Nduwayo, Head of UN Women in Haiti; a Kenyan delegation representing the Gang Supression Force (GSF); and several other figures from the public and private sectors and civil society.

This initiative, which falls within the framework of the implementation of the National Action Plan for Disarmament, Demobilization, Reintegration, and Reduction of Community Violence (DDR-RVC), aims to analyze the economic, social, and historical causes of violence, while mobilizing the private sector to create sustainable economic opportunities capable of breaking the dynamics of marginalization and exclusion.

During this forum, discussions highlighted the need to develop economic governance based on consultation, to co-create solutions adapted to local realities, and to sustainably integrate the private sector into the national stabilization strategy. The overall objective remains the consolidation of a collective response that strengthens communities, supports local employment, and promotes social peace.

In his address, Councilor Frinel Joseph reiterated that a return to constitutional order will only be meaningful in a climate of peace, where every citizen, entrepreneur, and worker feels protected and respected.

He emphasized that the implementation of the DDR-RVC Plan is a crucial lever for peace and development, calling for increased involvement of the private sector in youth reintegration, community reconstruction, and social dialogue.

In his remarks, Minister Monazard stated that he was honored by the holding of this second session, following the one organized in Cap-Haitien last July (https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45467-haiti-politic-councilor-saint-cyr-calls-for-renewed-commitment-from-the-private-sector.html). The Minister of Commerce and Industry indicated that, in the short term, his administration is implementing technical and financial support programs in areas still unaffected by violence, in order to provide young people with concrete means to start businesses, create enterprises, and actively participate in economic life.

Further on, the Minister stated his plans to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the most vulnerable neighborhoods, with the aim of facilitating access to financing for young project leaders and collaborating closely with businesses to promote the creation of decent and sustainable jobs. He emphasized the importance of placing inclusive economic development at the heart of the fight against insecurity, making investment, employment, and social cohesion essential levers for restoring national stability and building a safer and more resilient future for all citizens.

In her speech, Ms. Pedrica Saint Jean, Minister for the Status of Women, commended the private sector's commitment to reducing community violence and economic reconstruction, with particular attention to the central role of women. She reiterated that women no longer want to be beneficiaries, but rather active participants in peacebuilding, social cohesion, and economic recovery. She stated that "peace is built with women, and the economy cannot recover without them."

Furthermore, she presented several significant initiatives that her Ministry intends to implement to support women's active participation in community mediation, economic recovery, and social reconstruction.

The Minister also issued an urgent appeal to the Haitian private sector, urging it to resolutely integrate a gender perspective into its investment and governance strategies, emphasizing that "without the genuine and structured participation of women, there can be no lasting peace or robust economic recovery."

In conclusion, the Minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to building, alongside the women of Haiti, an inclusive, peaceful, and resilient society where women are recognized as pillars of stability and essential actors in national development.

HL/ S/ HaitiLibre