Today, Monday 25 May 2015, Diario Libre publishes an extensive feature on the weekly markets that take place on the border with Haiti. These bi-national markets started in 1993 when the late President Joaquin Balaguer announced that Haitians would be allowed cross the border without paperwork to purchase food and return the same day. The authorization for the market day dates back to a time when there was an international embargo on Haiti. The first market day was held in Dajabon. Now the market day in Dajabon is held in a building constructed with financial support from the European Union, and is managed by the city government of Dajabon that receives around RD$9 million a year in rent from vendors. An expansion costing EUR5 million is underway for the congested facility. There is a proposal to build a similar facility in Haiti, also funded by the European Union.
Diario Libre reports that there are currently 14 market day points, of which 12 are in the Dominican Republic and two in Haiti. The market points and estimated number of visitors according to a 2010 census of vendors and buyers of bi-national markets on the border carried out by CEI-RD are:
Dajabon (24,856), Jimani-Malpasse (23,974), Pedernales (5,249), Hondo Valle (6,266), Banica (3,289), Restauracion (2,251), Tilory (1,383), Los Cacaos (906), Guayajayuco (804), Canada Miguel (527), El Corozo (478), Hato Viejo (301) and El Cacique (226). The census found that there were 5,221 vendors, of whom 51% were Haitians and 48% Dominicans, and most were women.
Diario Libre reports the Haitian authorities complain they are not able to tax sales on these informal markets of which the total volume transacted is not known. However, the CEI-RD estimates that exports to Haiti were US$1.05 billion in 2014. Haiti is the second largest export market for the DR.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/2015/05/25/i1144231_mercados-fronterizos-comercio-entre-caos.html