A seminar titled “The Future of Economic Relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic” took place on Wednesday in Port-au-Prince, where experts spoke on the existing conditions between the two countries. Listin Diario reports that Pavel Isa, the director of the Center for Economic Investigation (CIECA) in the DR, stated that commerce between Haitian and DR markets is undermined by trade barriers that engender a “lose-lose” situation for both countries.
The economist indicated that these trade obstacles represent increased costs that put Haitian productivity at a great disadvantage. He believes that the DR’s poor economic performance will affect exports to Haiti, the third biggest market for DR goods, not including free-zone products. Among the main items exported from the DR to Haiti are clay, eggs, herring, and soya oil. Haitians exports to the DR accounted for 9% of its trade, according to the report.
Zobeida de Jesus, a representative of the Latin American Faculty for Social Sciences (FLACSO), said that Haitian commerce was focused mainly on food items for popular consumption and noted that 51% of Dominican imports were food and drink items, the bulk of which were agri-products such as rice, chicken and pork items. These goods’ allure was held primarily their prices, not their quality, said de Jesus.
Haitian expert Charles Clermont affirmed the need to regulate relations between the two neighboring nations, not only for the good of the state, but for the wellbeing of local education, culture and the private sector. He felt the development of a strategy to stimulate competition in the two nations was crucial, as the ability to compete is vital to the survival of each.