Breakfast meeting with Mr. Laurent Saint-Cyr, Member of the Presidential Counsel & and Mr. James Monazard, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism.

In a cordial gathering on June 28, 2024, members of the boards of ATH, AmCham Haiti, ADIH, CCIO, CCIHC, and the Institut Macaya held a breakfast meeting at Hôtel Montana with Mr. Laurent Saint-Cyr, Member of the Presidential Counsel representant of the Private Sector and Mr. James Monazard, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism.

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the new Minister of Commerce, discuss the challenges facing private sector businesses, and engage with our Presidential Advisor Laurent Saint-Cyr on the priorities of the Presidential Transition Council.

The importance of quickly establishing a list of priority issues for the sector was emphasized, and several recommendations were made by the participants.

Additionally, it was noted that many initiatives are already underway in various sectors, and it would be more prudent to continue and update these efforts rather than starting from scratch. It was suggested to take an inventory of the existing work to leverage it rather than create new projects and form a new team.

A particular focus was placed on the tax code, which is perceived as unfavorable to the private sector, especially industries, as it offers no incentives for investing in the country. A proposal was made to implement a moratorium on the enforcement of this tax code, which is set to take effect on October 1, 2024.

It was also noted that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are often overlooked in discussions about the private sector in general. It is crucial not to forget that MSMEs are also an integral part of the private sector and deserve special attention, especially since they are currently facing significant challenges and are undercapitalized.

Finally, it was stressed that open and ongoing dialogue between the different sectors is necessary to achieve positive outcomes, promote job creation, and bring about changes in work methods and strategies to avoid repeating the same mistakes.