| Haiti's apparel industry employs 29,000 people and is growing in part due to the HELP Act which offers generous Trade Preference Levels (TPLs) in knit, woven and added value categories. In 2010, despite suffering one of the world's most devastating natural disasters, Haiti's apparel exports to the U.S under the CBTPA and HELP acts reached $517 million. For 2011 the numbers published by the U.S. Department of Commerce show Haiti's exports trending toward $610 million. This increase is driven by an increased brand and retailer interest in sourcing from Haiti. While most of Haiti's exports are in the basic tee shirt and underwear categories, the apparel industry also produces knit tops, scrubs, woven trousers, jeans and woolen suits. Major U.S retailers and brands like Hanes, Gildan, Fishman Tobin, Levi's, Gap, Vanity Fair, Tommy Hilfiger, Men's Wearhouse, Walmart and Timberland buy product from Haiti. In addition most of the workwear producers like Cintas, Aramark and G&K import product from Haiti. Haiti's TPL utilization averaged 20% in 2010, indicating significant opportunity for additional investment and manufacturing growth before ceilings are reached. The Haitian Apparel Center (HAC) was set up by TC2 , a U.S. based company specializing in apparel training, and has the capacity to train 2,000 sewing operators per year in addition to quality inspectors, mechanics and supervisors. Screen printing, embroidery services and carton manufacturing are in place to support the apparel industry. Sae-A, a leading Korean apparel producer, has committed to investing in a vertical facility with knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing, printing, embroidery and laundry. This enterprise will be located in the Caracol Park and will employ 20,000 people when fully built up. |
From the Press
IDB hails new industrial park in northern Haiti
Monday, 22 October 2012 21:16 UTC
Manufacturing facility generates jobs, exports in less than one year since groundbreaking.
WASHINGTON, DC, U.S.A. (IDB) -- Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno today joined Haitian President Michel Martelly, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former U.S. President Bill Clinton for the inauguration of the Caracol Industrial Park (CIP), a modern manufacturing facility in northern Haiti.
La BID : 50 millions de dollars pour le Parc industriel de Caracol
La Banque interaméricaine de développement (BID) a annoncé l’accord pour l’octroi d’un don pour Haïti s’élevant à 50 millions de dollars américains. Ces fonds sont destinés à la deuxième phase de construction du Parc Industriel de Caracol dans le nord d’Haïti.
FACT CHECK — THE NEW YORK TIMES: Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken
On July 6, 2012, the New York Times published an article entitled: “Earthquake Relief Where Haiti Wasn’t Broken”. The piece has numerous factual errors and does not address many of the most salient points about the development of the Northern Corridor.
«Je suis impressionné», s'exclame le président Martelly - Haïti: Lundi 7 mai 2012. Il est 11 h 25 a.m. Le président Michel Joseph Martelly arrive à bord d'un hélico. Il foule le sol du parc industriel de Caracol en compagnie de l'ambassadeur américain Kenneth Merten et du ministre de l'Éducation nationale et de la Formation professionnelle, Réginald Paul. Tenue décontractée : chemise rayée, pantalon jeans bleu bottes. Il n'a pas effectué une visite surprise, car on l'attendait depuis son retour au pays après quelques jours d'absence pour des raisons de santé. Il n'y a pas eu de foule au parc industriel, mais des employés qui criaient vive Martelly!
Caracol : le rêve de 20 000 emplois prendra forme très lentement : Ceux qui avaient visité le Nord et le Nord-Est, à la fin de 2011 et au début de cette année 2012, ont constaté toute la propagande, à travers d'énormes panneaux publicitaires faite autour du parc industriel de Caracol, avant parc industriel de la région Nord. Ces messages annonçaient la création de 20 000 emplois au cours de cette année. La réalité en a décidé autrement. Quelle réalité ? --Le Nouvelliste 3 mai 2012
"We're no longer talking just about garment assembly. We are talking about a true textile industry short of planting cotton. That is what is being developed', said George Sassine, who is also responsible for implementing the US congress-approved duty-free legislation benefitting the garment industry". -- The Miami Herald, 29 March 2011