Page 98 - Caribbean-Central America Profile 2018

HAITI

CARIBBEAN-CENTRAL AMERICA PROFILE 2018

Official Name: Republic of Haiti
Capital: Port-au-Prince
Nationality: Haitian(s)
Official Language: French; Creole
HAITI Population Total (millions): 10.85 (2016 est.)
Size: 10,714 square miles
Currency: Haiti Gourde (HTG)
Internet Domain: .ht
International Dialling Code: +509
Electricity: 110-220 volts / 60 cycles

COUNTRY OVERVIEW INVESTMENT INCENTIVES
The Haitian Government is committed to a free-market system.
q Haiti is the second largest Caribbean Island. According to the Investment Code 2002, the government guarantees
q Occupies the western third of the island it shares with the to all persons and corporations involved in business in the country the
Dominican Republic. following rights and privileges:
q Haiti averages about 302 people per square kilometer; its • Free disposal of their properties.
population is concentrated most heavily in urban areas, coastal
plains, and valleys. • Freedom to hire and fire in accordance with the provisions of the
Labor Code.
q Vast stretches of coastline, stunning mangroves, extended cave
networks and mountainous terrain. • Freedom to engage in commercial and industrial activities
q French is one of two official languages, but it is spoken by only within the limitations of the Constitution and the Commercial
Regulations Code.
about 10 per cent of the people. All Haitians speak Creole; the
country’s other official language. • Protection of trademarks, patents, labels, and all other forms of
q English is increasingly used as a second language among the intellectual property rights.
young and in the business sector. • Minimal intervention by the State in the market: Government
q The capital is Port-au-Prince. regulated prices are reduced for five products and services
including: oil, energy, telecommunications, transportation, and
The government of Haiti has identified four priority regions or the minimum wage.
development poles to diversify and decentralize economic activity from • Haiti has signed treaties and conventions with many industrialize
the Port-au-Prince area: countries, in order to reciprocally protect foreign investments.
• North of Port-au-Prince in the area around Cabaret The Government of Haiti provides two types of incentives for foreign
• Cap-Haïtien and the northern region investment: customs duty incentives and income tax incentives.
• Hinche and the Central Plateau, Gonaives, St. Marc, and the Customs duty incentives vary according to whether the production of
Artibonite Plain the beneficiary is intended for the domestic market or for export. In
• Les Cayes, Jacmel, and surrounding areas in the south addition to custom privileges, eligible firms may benefit from income
tax exemption according to a maturity schedule.
In its effort to advance development in those regions, as well as in
Port-au-Prince, the government supports the creation and expansion of TAX INCENTIVES
industrial parks and provides incentives for the creation of free trade Qualified businesses may benefit from a tax holiday of up to 15 years,
during which neither the corporation nor its distributed profits are
zones. These parks and zones aim to help catalyze economic growth subject to withholding tax. The reinstatement of taxes after the tax
in the country by increasing the availability of factory space and holiday is ended is done in a staggered manner.
appropriate infrastructure necessary to support business activities.
For a firm to qualify for Tax Holidays, it must meet one of the
With its 1,500 km of coastline, Haiti has a port network consisting of following criteria:
two international ports, 13 cabotage ports, eight of which are open • Intensive and efficient exploitation of available local resources.
to foreign trade. The country via the National Port Authority (NPA)
intends to realize the “Port economic poles”. The latter must contribute • Creation of new jobs and improvement of the professional
qualification level.
to the strengthening of the decentralization and deconcentrating process
and to the development and empowerment of the regions. • Introduction or extension of new technology more appropriate to
local conditions.

B-62 Caribbean-Central American Action