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Why the Park? A. The Park will create at least 20,000 jobs and $500M in wages and benefits for employees and their families; it will catalyze economic growth in the North, and also across the country. There already is increased interest from companies in a variety of sectors who are now looking at investing in Haiti. This is an investment for the future of Haiti. The Government of Haiti, through SONAPI, owns the Park and its proceeds, providing the opportunity and resources for the GOH to make decisions in the best interest of the people of Haiti.
Q? What led to the Park’s location? A. Before identifying a site for the GOH’s approval, the IDB commissioned land assessments and presented the findings, including more than 20 independent site assessments, to the GOH to select the preferred site. “The Northeast region, especially along the corridor between Cap Haitien and Ouanaminthe, was chosen based on the quality of the national highway 121, the presence of the port of Cap Haitien (in close proximity to ports in Southern USA), and its proximity to the Dominican border, which offers not only access to Puerto Plata and other ports in the region, but also the possibility of drawing new benefits of cross-border collaboration, especially in the garment industry.” [Koios Feasibility Study, Google Translation]
Q? What are the impact on the farmers using the land ? A. Approximately 200-300 smallholder farmers currently use the land for subsistence farming. GOH officials have been engaging collaboratively with these farmers to ensure an equitable compensation agreement is reached by July. Smallholder farmers using the land have expressed support for the Park and the benefits to the community through the multiplier effect of new jobs, new investment in infrastructure and energy, new investment in the education system and other new investments that will bolster the local economy.
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From the Press
IDB hails new industrial park in northern Haiti
Monday, 22 October 2012 21:16 UTC
Manufacturing facility generates jobs, exports in less than one year since groundbreaking.
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. (IDB) -- Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno today joined Haitian President Michel Martelly, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. President Bill Clinton for the inauguration of the Caracol Industrial Park (CIP), a modern manufacturing facility in northern Haiti.
La BID : 50 millions de dollars pour le Parc industriel de Caracol
La Banque interaméricaine de développement (BID) a annoncé l’accord pour l’octroi d’un don pour Haïti s’élevant à 50 millions de dollars américains. Ces fonds sont destinés à la deuxième phase de construction du Parc Industriel de Caracol dans le nord d’Haïti.
FACT CHECK — THE NEW YORK TIMES: Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken
On July 6, 2012, the New York Times published an article entitled: “Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken”. The piece has numerous factual errors and does not address many of the most salient points about the development of the Northern Corridor.
«Je suis impressionné», s'exclame le président Martelly - Haïti: Lundi 7 mai 2012. Il est 11 h 25 a.m. Le président Michel Joseph Martelly arrive à bord d'un hélico. Il foule le sol du parc industriel de Caracol en compagnie de l'ambassadeur américain Kenneth Merten et du ministre de l'Éducation nationale et de la Formation professionnelle, Réginald Paul. Tenue décontractée : chemise rayée, pantalon jeans bleu bottes. Il n'a pas effectué une visite surprise, car on l'attendait depuis son retour au pays après quelques jours d'absence pour des raisons de santé. Il n'y a pas eu de foule au parc industriel, mais des employés qui criaient vive Martelly!
Caracol : le rêve de 20 000 emplois prendra forme très lentement : Ceux qui avaient visité le Nord et le Nord-Est, à la fin de 2011 et au début de cette année 2012, ont constaté toute la propagande, à travers d'énormes panneaux publicitaires faite autour du parc industriel de Caracol, avant parc industriel de la région Nord. Ces messages annonçaient la création de 20 000 emplois au cours de cette année. La réalité en a décidé autrement. Quelle réalité ? --Le Nouvelliste 3 mai 2012
"We're no longer talking just about garment assembly. We are talking about a true textile industry short of planting cotton. That is what is being developed', said George Sassine, who is also responsible for implementing the US congress-approved duty-free legislation benefitting the garment industry". -- The Miami Herald, 29 March 2011