The capital of Haiti lies in ruins. Most landmark buildings have collapsed. Thousands of people are feared dead. International emergency relief is under way as countries and NGOs around the world send supplies and experts. Haiti needs a fast humanitarian response to save lives and prevent further deaths from disease, hunger and violence.
In the past, aid in Haiti has been unco-ordinated and often ineffective. So it's critical that the relief effort is followed by a co-ordinated and targeted recovery plan that provides real hope to Haiti's youth and an exit from a downward spiral of disaster. Resources needed for such a Marshall-type plan will probably amount to several billion dollars.
Haiti has recently witnessed unprecedented support from the international community and keen interest from international investors amid improving political stability. In October, 200 such investors joined their Haitian counterparts in Port-au-Prince to debate the country's trade preferences, the dedication and creativity of its work force, and opportunities in apparel assembly, high-value fruits, energy and tourism.
Haiti received $1.2-billion in debt relief, authorities started to cut red tape, international partners lowered travel warnings, aid budgets were increased and a number of unprecedented multimillion-dollar investment projects were launched.
Read Full Article »