Speech by Philippe Armand, President of Amcham Haiti

2012 YEAR END ADDRESS

OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN HAIT

Ambassador Pamela White,

Mr. Le Premier Ministre Laurent Lamothe,

Mesdames/Messieurs  les membres du Corps Diplomatique et Consulaire

Mesdames/Messieurs les membres du Gouvernement

Mesdames/Messieurs les membres du Parlement

Mesdames/Messieurs les membres de la Presse

Mesdames/Messieurs les dirigeants des Associations Patronales

Mesdames/Messieurs les membres de la AmCham

Distinguished Guests,                                                                                                                                                 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

On behalf of the AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE in HAITI (AMCHAM) please allow me to first thank Ambassador Pamela WHITE for sharing with us tonight her beautiful residence as our Chamber gathers to celebrate our 2012 Christmas party.  Tradition wants the President of AmCham to address at this function:  the Chamber’s Membership, Government authorities, the International Community and the public at large.   It is therefore my honor to do so.

While Christmas is a time of Peace, it is also a time of reflection at the end of each year.  This year we shall take a snapshot at our country in a responsible way and we shall take a look at where we are and where we want to go. 

Should we express satisfaction or dissatisfaction at our recent past; should we express optimism or pessimism on our upcoming future?

At the end of 2013, are we at a time of balance? It should be noted that the growth rate of our economy is very weak. Far annual projections of around 8%, our growth rate is below 3% and is zero when viewed in light of population growth. This is even more difficult with a GNP per capita of less than U.S. $ 1,000 per year, we remain not only the poorest country in the Americas but the difference compared to our neighbors in the region that is increasing every day. This collective poverty, the misery “abject” qualifies as our Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, becomes even more unacceptable. But it is not enough to say! We must all act, each in his case. As Private Sector in Haiti, we must force development, we create wealth for reinvestment, produce, and pursue a vision of Economic Growth.
• YES, the Private Sector’s mission is to be the engine of the national economy and generate employment to reduce poverty and improve the living conditions of the majority.
• YES, the private sector cannot be passive and cannot afford the luxury of waiting for the government creates the economic development of our country. It is also not his role and governments in general have neither the means nor the ability.
In his first speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington just two months ago, the new President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim said bluntly:
“Whatever World countries, the Public Sector can only accompany economic development and nothing more. This is the Private sector to be the engine of national economic development. ‘
• Are we aware of this at the Haitian Private Sector?
• Our political leaders are they aware of this axiom?
• The Executive and Parliament Haitians are they aware of this inescapable reality?

Let us no illusion Complacency would be fatal. Rather than waiting on the other, let us rather to build together a model of sustainable economic development. That no one is a source of blocking at the expense of the economic growth needed to eradicate abject poverty in our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Executive
Ladies and gentlemen of Parliament

We are your Private Sector.
We are your assets for successful economic revolution in Haiti.
We cannot succeed without you, you cannot succeed without us.

Our mission is collective by your structural framing and enactment of appropriate laws on the one hand, and our investment and job creation that will result other hand, we can and must bring our country out of poverty and share with people living healthier and more dignified. However,
• The legal framework is key and we will not dwell on it too, let me make you notice that over the last 18 months, practically only the Banking Act was passed as an accompanying measure of investment.
• The Act on money laundering, the capital of our international trade is still blocked in Parliament yesterday though Senate leaders with whom we spoke to, promised that this law will be enacted before the international deadline of May 2013.
• The Law for Consumer Protection is blocked in Parliament since July 2012
• The Law on Electric Power and the Law to punish the theft of electricity, are also blocked in Parliament since July 2012

• The law on electronic signatures as well as on communications, have not even been debated in Parliament while our laws frameworks in this area are older than 40 years and not obviously manage new technologies that are part of our daily lives today.

• At the level of the Presidency and the various ministries, things are not progressing as they should to develop the economy. Whether the Commercial Code, the Insurance Code, the Labour Code, the Tax Code, the Code of Ports, the Act permits Construction of the Bail Act, Act the Mining Operations of the Law on Integrated Economic Zone of the Law on Intellectual Property, and to name them, but we talk about everything seems blocked.

Excluding these Codes and Laws are essential to economic development and promulgation not hinder if not block good business, and discourage local and foreign investment.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Private Sector in Haiti

There is no doubt that the State has the duty to accompany us to facilitate the economic development of our country through investments and reinvestments, there will be wealth creation, which is essential to the Economic Growth. But in turn, we need to be men and women business fiscally responsible. It is by paying our taxes we endow the state resources to operate and provide us with appropriate infrastructure our country needs

Dear Business Investors from the International Community,

 The Haitian Business Community welcomes you in Haiti and thanks you for investing in our Economy. We strongly support our Government’s declaration: “Haiti is Open for Business” and foremost we are strong believers in competitivity, trade and Corporate Social Responsibility.  The formal business sector is working hard towards that end. We want foreign investments to be successful in Haiti.  We want you to be an integral part of our sustainable economic growth. We see you as valuable partners in creating jobs through investments, and we do want Haiti’s competitivity to allow you to derive great profits to the satisfaction of your shareholders back home.

Dear Diplomats and Representatives of Foreign Institutions in Haiti,

Have faith in the Private Sector of Haiti. Have a positive attitude towards us. We are no different from the Private Sectors of your respective countries. This is a simple reality.  Please do note that our remarks tonight are not intended to irresponsibly criticize our Government but are being brought forward as an integral part of our vision for change and for economic growth.  Only by being proactive will we resolve our weaknesses.  We mean well, we want to progress and we shall do more.  This is our Pledge!

 VIVE  HAITI

JOYEUX NOEL ET BONNE ANNEE

 Allow me to thank one more time for this beautiful evening Her Excellency Ambassador Pamela WHITE and our 16 sponsors for their contribution which enabled us to organize tonight’s evnt:

Thank you,

Philippe R. Armand