Haiti -- IDB Grant for the Productive Infrastructure Program

September 13, 2012

U.S. Position

The United States welcomes the impressive progress of this project towards creating 

thousands of jobs in Haiti, and catalyzing new opportunities for sustainable economic 

development, while working to protect the fragile resources of the Caracol Bay that 

provide substantial economic and ecological benefits. As of today, just a few months 

after the opening of the Caracol Industrial Park, we understand that the first tenant 

already employs 775 people, the majority of whom are formerly unemployed women. In 

one of Haiti’s poorest regions with widespread unemployment, this will be the first 

formal job for many of the employees. The United States is pleased to note that a second 

tenant has already signed up and is ready to commence operations. The United States also 

appreciates that the IDB has been working closely with other donors to ensure all of the 

components of the program are successful and economically and environmentally 

sustainable.

Notwithstanding U.S. support for the goals of this investment, the United States must 

abstain pursuant to a Congressional mandate, in this case due to the timing of the 

publication of the cumulative impact assessment. Disclosure of the assessment in a 

timely fashion is essential for all relevant stakeholders to review the impacts the project 

will potentially have on the environment, and ensure that the proposed mitigation 

measures will be taken. There is still work that needs to be done to complete important 

assessment areas, including on the impact on the Caracol Bay, waste water and solid 

waste treatment, CO2 emissions, and a long term study of the aquifer that is shared with 

the Dominican Republic to ensure adequate and safe water supplies.

The United States recognizes that the IDB has taken important steps to address the social 

and environmental impacts of the project, notably the cumulative impact assessment and 

the regional planning studies. Looking ahead, the United States will be paying attention 

to the contract to monitor water and air quality in and around the industrial park. Also, 

environmental preservation programs for the mangroves at the Caracol Bay are ready to 

launch, supporting the Government of Haiti’s vision to advance prosperity while 

protecting Haiti’s ecological and cultural heritage.

The United States welcomes the intensive efforts by the IDB to safeguard Haiti’s 

environmental assets as part of the development of the Park, including the consultations 

that have been undertaken, and welcomes the community outreach by all the stakeholders 

to ensure that investment in the Northern Corridor has a positive long-term impact on the 

lives of the Haitian people. The challenge ahead is to ensure that environmental studies 

and mitigation measures keep pace with the construction and operation of the park and 

the influx of workers. Given the critical importance of the operation, the United States 

looks forward to close collaboration with the IDB so that this project can successfully 

meet its targets in terms of job creation and environmental and social sustainability.