Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, December 6, 2011—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, unveiled a new report showing that the implementation of integrated economic zones can create more than 380,000 jobs and 100,000 home sites in Haiti over the next two decades.

The report, “Integrated Economic Zones in Haiti,” found that with support from the government, the international community, and the private sector, these zones have great potential to boost job creation, reconstruction, and economic growth in Haiti. The report was funded by the government of The Netherlands.

“Creating large sustainable employment is a top priority for the government of Haiti,” said Wilson Laleau, Haiti’s Minister of Commerce and Industry. “We believe integrated economic zones offer a unique opportunity to reduce transaction costs and stimulate critical job-creating investment around the country. The government is committed to joining with the private sector and the international community to develop the regulatory framework and pilot the next large development under a public-private partnership approach.”

IFC representatives presented their findings at a workshop attended by high-level Haitian officials. Representatives from the private sector, civil society, and the international community joined the discussion on how to make integrated economic zones a reality.

“This report and workshop are important milestones toward strategically addressing the need for serviced industrial space,” said Armando Heilbron, Private Sector Development Specialist and team leader of IFC’s Investment Generation project in Haiti. “IFC and the World Bank Group are eager to support the country in this, given the potential for integrated economic zones to generate jobs.”  

IFC responded swiftly in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Haiti in January 2010. Since then, IFC has committed five projects and raised its portfolio in Haiti to an amount of $ 45.6 million including $14.6 mobilized financing. IFC is focused on helping rebuild Haiti and reactivate growth through investment and advisory services, in priority sectors such as garments, infrastructure, telecommunications, power, tourism, and finance.

About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector. We help developing countries achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, providing advisory services to businesses and governments, and mobilizing capital in the international financial markets. In fiscal 2011, amid economic uncertainty across the globe, we helped our clients create jobs, strengthen environmental performance, and contribute to their local communities—all while driving our investments to an all-time high of nearly $19 billion. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.