Caribbean News
Strengthening Haiti-Bahamas Cooperation: Marketing Haiti Agriculture Products in the Bahamas
Jul 27, 2014 - 12:08:25 PM

HAITI - The Minister of Agriculture of the Bahamas Mr. Alfred Gray, accompanied by a large delegation of 9 members, closed Friday, July 18, 2014 a 72-hours official visit in Haiti.

This visit followed the discussions initiated by the President Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas in various international meetings, as well as the visit of a large Haitian delegation, which went to Bahamas last June, where it was submitted four proposals for agreement to the Bahamian authorities, including an Agreement on trade and technical cooperation in the field of quality control of agricultural products and fisheries.

The objective of this visit was to verify and discuss with Haitian authorities, Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI), the National Port Authority (APN), on zoo-phytosanitary standards and quality control for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries on the commercialization of agricultural products.

Bahamian delegation held several meetings with officials from the Ministries concerned. In addition, a visit was carried out in the departments of East, North, Northwest, Artibonite and West to assess the agricultural potential of Haiti. The Bahamian authorities have also visited the University of Limonade, the Tamarind Laboratory and companies like Agritrans (Banana), Rebo (coffee and other products), Agro Pak (Mango). Finally, the Haitian authorities have worked and validated with the Bahamian delegation the text of the Memorandum of Agreement on technical cooperation and commercialization of agricultural and fishing products. The products concerned include: bananas, cereals (maize, millet), mango, pigeon peas, pistachio, tubers (yam, malanga, potato), coffee and cocoa.

Alfred Gray, said he was satisfied with his assessment mission in the country while evoking the efforts of Haitian businesses to meet the health standards globally accepted and recognized "Now the Bahamas are ready to sign the memorandum of agreement on the quality control of products and zoo-phytosanitary standards with Haiti."

For Thomas Jacques, Minister of Agriculture, the forthcoming signing of this agreement, scheduled during the official visit of President Martelly to the Bahamas on July 29, is the palpable proof of the efforts of the Administration Martelly and Lamothe government to create the necessary conditions to promote investment in the country, to seek new markets for Haitian products and stimulate recovery of agricultural production.

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