Bush administration promotes exports from post-civil war Haiti

Bush administration promotes exports from post-civil war Haiti    The Bush administration urged business leaders at a Caribbean/Central American Action meeting Wednesday to help find ways to promote exports from post-civil war Haiti.
   U.S. treasury undersecretary John Taylor told the group there’s a lot of “unmet potential in the export sector” in Haiti.
   “It is not difficult to understand why the development of the private sector has lagged in Haiti — poor infrastructure, difficulty accessing credit, and a weak regulatory environment all constrain business creation,” Taylor said.
   Taylor, who met with Haitian government officials two weeks ago, praised the new regime for its plans to “support the development of export-oriented firms through initiatives such as regional one-stop shop centers, and the establishment of special industrial and commercial free-trade zones — programs which have worked well in other countries.”
   He also said the security situation continues to improve and the new Haitian government is attempting to stabilizing the economy and increasing revenue collection.
   In addition, Taylor noted the Senate’s June 16 passage of the Haiti Economic Recovery Opportunity Act. “If ultimately passed, this initiative will allow Haiti duty-free entry for apparel assembled from third-country inputs, potentially providing a significant boost to economic activity,” Taylor said.