Fourth event of its kind addressed to medium- and long-term opportunities to assist in Haiti's reconstruction Pennsylvania companies gained insight into medium- and long-term plans for rebuilding efforts in Haiti and learned how they can engage in the process today at a Haiti Reconstruction Forum in Philadelphia. Rick Wade, senior adviser and deputy chief of staff to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and head of the Commerce Department’s Haiti business outreach, delivered the conference’s opening and closing remarks.
Wade was joined at the forum by U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell. Speakers included representatives from Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
This was the fourth in a series of events that support the goals of the Haitian Government’s Action Plan for National Recovery and Development of Haiti. The next planned event is a two-day conference, titled “Building a New Haiti: Commerce, Business and Investment,” June 10-11, in Port-au-Prince.
January’s earthquake, which resulted in more than 230,000 lives lost, ranked among the 10 worst natural disasters in recorded history, and the worst in the Western Hemisphere. The Inter-American Development Bank estimates reconstruction costs following the devastating earthquake will range between $8 billion and $14 billion.
The Haitian Government’s action plan can be viewed at: http://www.haiticonference.org/Haiti_Action_Plan_ENG.pdf
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce
