In today's attention economy, expertise without visibility is a liability while growth doesn't happen with blatant negative media or narratives, instead it is hidden in strategic foresight and planning.
The Top 10 Haitian Business Personalities list for Economic Breakthroughs is of business owners, executives, and operators with long term economic outcomes whose businesses encompass growth models with solid metrics and scalable systems and who are highly encouraged to use advocacy, civic leadership, long term economic agenda to petition and lobby at the world’s largest and biggest financial institutions and/or the civil, private, and public sectors for economic transformation of Haiti with a long term growth and empowerment agenda that spans for the next 25+ years to help graduate Haiti from the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) of the Least Developed Countries ( #LDCs) list with a diversified economy model.
As we know that cities are integral for shaping a country’s economic development and its future; however, Haitian cities continue to lag behind and face urban development challenges of the lack of urban city planning and independent development review board. Haiti’s transformation can truly happen as these current leaders and urban visionaries help plan its economic breakthroughs in the years ahead.
The 10 Haitian Business Personalities for Haiti’s Economic Breakthroughs is the response to Haiti’s future economic growth and prosperity to its rapid expansion and urban development. The state of Haiti’s urbanization of its major cities are crucial based on value and integrity of private sector and public trust of government institutions to combat extreme poverty, and poor governance, management, and planning. Haiti’s towns and cities need a stronger urban city planning framework and system to help them on improving on economic diversification and growth, reducing their resilience to natural disasters, environmental shocks, and sociopolitical crises or human-made problems in their communities.
This list helps us to understand the strategic and visionary approach in business development, growth and maturity and the role each honoree on this list can play to empower Haitian communities with modern and innovative technologies and solutions to become a benchmark to attract international partners, institutional investors, and strategic leaders among the most notable global institutions around the world.
This list of leaders becomes the cornerstone for scalable communities and organizations that desire growth, expansion, and diversification towards a promising future. It offers a set of recommendations to initiate policies and initiatives and meet international standards to attract foreign direct investments and diaspora direct investments to increase their stakes in promoting local economies with respect of supporting these founders who lack of funding, technical assistance, and coaching or mentoring.
With a contextual overview in facilitating urban planning for inclusivity and resilience with local municipalities, they are here to help build stronger connections between cities and neighborhoods with international organizations that work with municipalities explicitly, or get trusted government institutions to help finance their corporate and social initiative efforts to urbanize more Haitian cities and increase the quality their municipal operations more effectively and efficiently with modern mechanisms and systems that are well established and ready-to enable to scalable and sustainable urban development.
On today’s economic landscape, more than half of Haiti's population calls cities and towns their home, in a major shift from the 1950s when around 90 percent of Haitians lived in the countryside. However, until recently, there is a reshuffle from urban spaces to countryside as instability and insecurity rein in major urban metropolitan regions like in Port-Au-Prince.
The most saddening part, these settlers are moving into these rural areas without any economic power or purchasing power and there is neither work nor public service on the countryside of Haiti. Then comes the need for economic empowerment through strengthening Haitian municipalities with urban city planning.
Urbanization is then a source of solving these economic, social, and mobility problems and is usually paired with economic growth, increased productivity, and higher living standards.
For too long, Haiti has its centralized the entire economy on the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and its metropolitan regions, now this is the time for an economic transformation and breakthrough to overcome the infrastructural challenges in other regional municipalities. These potential urban benefits will be immense as these visionary leaders understand these mechanisms and prepare the necessary legwork through advocacy and public-private partnerships to work with municipalities to decentralize the economy, face the social and political challenges that need rapid and effective implementation and immediate action to urbanize Haiti.
To better understand the factors that constrain the sustainable and inclusive economic development of Haitian cities, this list puts the responsibility and emphasis on these visionary leaders for the economic breakthroughs that they aim to achieve.
The list was curated to spark the conversation on urban planning and renewal, endowment fund model and investment banking, social enterprise and demand-led growth, regional connectivity and commercial leadership for growing strategic partnerships with municipal governments, state governments, and corporate organizations to create a better future with transformative solutions. In supporting of these commercial partnerships and initiatives, there is a more resilient and sustainable growth strategy to create an economic environment that is sustainable, diverse, and socio-politically more stable and secure to operate since businesses are more likely to thrive once security and stability are maintained, not the other way. Dominican Republic and Chile are two regional examples in their quest for long term stability and economic prosperity in the Global South region; they both go hand in hand based documented research and public opinion.
Haiti’s main focus should be on building bridges for its long-term stability and a political climate that is serene and for attracting foreign capital which is linked directly to job creation and business formation and expansion fueled by private sector as they can seek new markets and territories to sell their goods specially in Haitian cities with less social and political battlegrounds and insecurity.
These companies can have all the best and lowest financing terms and agreements, but the political and environmental climates must allow or facilitate for the right kind of economic development and growth based their distribution systems and supply chain value as they identify strategic keys and pathways for growth capital, corporate governance, and institutional values to unlock the next frontiers of growth, innovation, and profitability.
Investment and development banks are crucial for economic development of any country because they facilitate capital formation, reduce capital cost to help companies raise capital privately and publicly for long term and large-scale development projects with over 5, 15, 25 years or more. They advise on strategic financial decisions, plan on long-term feasibility and procurement that can ultimately contribute to economic growth and innovation with better living standards and high returns for stakeholders, investors, clients, partners, and employees.
Haitian diaspora investment will be unlocked as risks of capital is lowered and Haiti’s needs for an investment and development are crucial as they play strategic roles in growing various sectors in Haiti economy and cut the risks of individual investment by half in mobilizing economic development and long-term investment across strategic sectors like Mergers and acquisitions ( M& A) , Secondary markets, Debt underwriting and Restructuring, Advisory and Sector Diversification.
Haiti can become the next social capital #Hub for building sustainable cities & communities by focusing on community-led development & empowering local communities to lead their own development; engaging the diaspora for investment & expertise & leveraging the unique knowledge & resources they possess; Getting access to reliable Internet, electricity, & fintech infrastructure rails; Strengthening & Investing in infrastructure & services, particularly in areas like public transport, urban land management, & access to water & sanitation that are crucial for building resilient & livable cities.
This is why it is key to work socially to build a public safety net to hire the best architecture & design consulting firms like Gensler Latinoamérica , UNS, HOK, and Populous to improve our built environment with modern designs, buildings, and venue facilities to upscale Haitian living standards just like the oil-producing countries aim to diversify their economies by investing alternative assets to improve livelihoods of their citizens.
Here are a few tips to consider helping Haiti economics’ future and make it gain an economic breakthrough or simply regain its global competitiveness:
🇭🇹Leaders should focus on improving large scale infrastructure, demand-led growth product, specially Transporation, telecommunications, and energy, while also promoting sectors like tourism and agribusiness.
🇭🇹They should also prioritize reducing bureaucratic hurdles, strengthening the legal system, and encouraging both domestic and foreign investment.
🇭🇹Furthermore, international partnerships and regional integration through initiatives like CARICOM: Caribbean Community can broaden market access and improve financial resources.
Here are a few quotes or statements from the leaders on this list :
“ I am deeply honored by the recognition extended by the Haiti Executive Board and humbled to be included among those contributing to the modernization of Haiti’s financial system. However, it is essential to emphasize that such progress is never the work of a single individual. It is, instead, the collective translation of the determination, expertise, and commitment of countless women and men who believe—more than ever—that we must do things differently in this country. (#Autrement - #YonLòtJan).“ The commitment of Groupe ProFin is that of a constellation of stakeholders—collaborators, clients, investors, promoters, and key institutional actors—who understand that building and sharing wealth sustainably requires the activation of indispensable components. In this regard, we remain convinced that finance, when used thoughtfully and strategically, is a powerful vehicle for implementing the structural balance our society needs. Let us continue, together, to mobilize this conviction with integrity and ambition”, said Robert Jr. Paret, Founder and Chairman of Groupe ProFin.
"This recognition is more than an accolade-it is a powerful affirmation that our efforts to innovate, uplift, and inspire are being seen, valued, and celebrated"He continued by saying " At times, the path of progress can feel solitary. But your acknowledgment reminds us that we are not walking this journey alone. Your commitment to highlighting Haitian excellence sends a clear and resounding message: Haiti is alive, resilient, and full of promise. This distinction stands as a beacon, affirming that even in moments of challenge, the Haitian spirit not only endures-but shines. The Haiti Executive Board has led by example-showing the world that Haiti is not defined by its hardships, but by its potential. Though our nation may feel like it is in a coma, we are its heartbeat. Let us nurture it, believe in it, and work tirelessly to ensure that in 25 years, Haiti rises anew-a global symbol of unity, innovation, and the unbreakable strength of its people. With deep respect and unwavering solidarity, let us work to rebuild, reimagine, and reignite pride in our homeland.”, said GENEL MOLIERE, Founder & CEO of Gride Technology, Inc."
It is an honor. 8 years of working on a very simple vision: Creating the conditions for entrepreneurship and innovation to bring much needed prosperity to Haiti. There is still so much more to do, but this is a booster to keep going. Grateful for everyone we got the chance to work with on this journey . This is because of you... Thank You " said Marc Alain Boucicault , Founder & CEO of Banj .
