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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

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Development Update

The Caracol Park Project is rapidly taking shape and remains on track for the official opening in March 2012. The Caracol Park team will provide regular updates on the development of the Park to allow the communities in the North as well as interested investors and tenants to track progress.

October 22, 2012

Inauguration of Caracol Industrial Park

October, 15 2012

First shipment of the firm SAE-A 67 000 pieces at Walmart

May 7, 2012

Visit of President Michel Martelly to Caracol to inquire about the progress of work.

April 27, 2012

Visit of provisional acceptance of the buildings of Lot 1 of the PIC. Provisional acceptance has been issued for the dorms. Others have not been received.

April 16, 2012

Visit of provisional acceptance of the interim treatment plant for domestic wastewater.

April 11, 2012

Visit of Mrs. Cheryl Mills, Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

March 28, 2012

Visit of Minister of Commerce, members of his cabinet and the Mayors of Caracol, Lemonade, Terrier Rouge, project presentation by the UTE and CTMO and visit the various buildings.

March 27, 2012

Arrival on site of various plant equipment provisional treatment of domestic wastewater.

March 15, 2012

Visit of a delegation of the Korea Agency for Development and Henri-Claude Poitevien CTMO (Commission présidentielle tripatite de Mise en Oeuvre de la Loi Hope) chairman of the PIC-HOPE.

March 13, 2012

Opening of Bids in the Tender for the supply and installation of a permanent station for domestic wastewater treatment, with a capacity of 2,500 m3/day. Ten (10) bids were received.

December 29, 2011:

Signature of a contract with the enterprise RUIZ ALEMAN CONSTRUCCIONES for the supply, installation and exploitation of an temporary treatment plant for domestic wastewater including the staff training.

November 28, 2011

The Government of Haiti, together with the U.S. government, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Korean apparel manufacturer Sae-A Co. Ltd., officially laid the foundation stone for the Caracol Industrial Park. Haitian President Michel Martelly, along with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, presided at the ceremony.

October 28, 2011

Progress on the Construction Site: The contractor, Estrella, has begun clearing and grading the site using heavy equipment such as excavators, graders, bulldozers, loaders and dump trucks. Estrella also erected temporary offices for construction and engineering personnel. The construction schedule remains on track to complete the first phase of the 250ha industrial park by March 2012.
Information Campaign: The information kiosk in Caracol provides brochures and further information about the Caracol Industrial Park. The kiosk, as well as additional kiosks in other towns in the region, will also be a focal point to highlight job opportunities associated with the Park. The kiosks are staffed by members of the local community and facilitate the two-way sharing of information and feedback as the construction of the Park progresses. They constitute a key part of the wider information campaign providing regular outreach to the communities of the North about the ongoing development of the Park and associated infrastructure. This outreach also includes billboards, leaflets, radio spots and press releases to radio stations and newspapers.
Business Opportunities in Northern Haiti in the Spotlight: The development of the North and the Caracol Park with its associated investments in housing, electricity, port infrastructure, schooling and health clinics was prominent during President Martelly’s remarks at events at the time of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September. This included a high-level discussion on investing in Haiti with President Martelly, former President Clinton, President Moreno of the IDB and Sae-A’s Chairman Kim, among others, that highlighted the importance of job creation in Haiti’s Northern region and the progress made in the development of the Caracol Park. The project and the emerging possibilities for businesses to investment in Haiti were subject of an article in Women’s Wear Daily, the leading newspaper for the global fashion and apparel industry.

September 16th, 2011

Two major construction contracts have been awarded: After an open, competitive international bidding process. The first award is for the construction of Park infrastructure, including factory shells, internal roads, access roads, domestic waste water, water treatment and supply, fencing, lighting and drainage. The second award is for the construction of an onsite power plant that will deliver electricity to Park tenants and nearby communities , with sufficient back-up generator capacity to ensure 24/7 supply.
Farmers' compensation plan agreed: Farmers affected by the building of the 250ha Caracol Park have agreed to a fair and transparent compensation package that has been negotiated over the past few months. The package ensures that the construction of the Park does not generate adverse affects on the livelihoods of the surrounding communities.

September 6th, 2011

First payments made under the social compensation plan: Last week, the first payments have been made to a select group whose incomes have been affected by the construction of the fencing for the Caracol Park. This is an important first step in ensuring that those directly affected by the construction of the Caracol Park are fairly compensated.
Sae-A's trainees have begun their training in Nicaragua: The first 20 individuals selected from the North are currently receiving training in Sae-A's Nicaragua facilities to familiarize themselves with the operational processes that will be implemented in Sae-A's new Haiti facilities. This is an important step in Sae-A's commitment to hire locals for managerial and supervisory positions
Sae-A donates to camp in Port-au-Prince: Sae-A has donated a truck and 12,000 hygiene kids to a camp of internally displaced people in Port-au-Prince.
Haiti's apparel industry enjoys a strong showing at MAGIC Fashion Show in Las Vegas: MAGIC is one of the premier global events of the apparel industry and a major occasion to connect with buyers in the industry. Buyer interest was evident from the countless visitors reviewing the range and diversity of Haitian samples on display at MAGIC. Excellent customer service, consistent communication and marketing to prospective buyers of Haitian goods must continue for the positive reaction to convert into business transactions that support existing jobs and fuel growth in Haiti. Haiti's apparel exports to the US for June 2011 have increased 27.1% over the same period last year which is a very encouraging sign. July 17th, 2011

Public Solicitations to Build the Park Infrastructure and Buildings: On Friday, July 8, 3 qualified bids were made by Haitian and international companies for the construction of the Caracol Park infrastructure and factory shells. The request for proposals followed open competitive bidding, including publication of the request in Haitian newspapers and on the United Nations portal for international business opportunities. The bids are currently under review by a panel of experts assembled by the UTE, the GOH entity charged with developing the Park.
Public Solicitations to Build the First Phase of the Power Plant: On July 15, 5 bidders responded to the public request for bids to build the power plant at the Caracol Park.
The Park Site: With work underway on the site, a security team has started patrolling the site and, of the 45 guards, 30 are from Caracol and 12 are from Cap Haitien.
Communicating with the Community: On Friday, July 15, the UTE launched the comprehensive communications campaign at a meeting with different communities from the North in Fort Liberte. The communication effort will include leaflets, radio spots, billboards, a website and information kiosks; it is being designed to help ensure that residents from Port-au-Paix to Ouanaminthe are informed about the project and have opportunity to share their feedback and suggestions. It will also work to send a strong message to Haiti and the world: The North is open for business and one of the most ambitious investment projects in Haiti's recent history is becoming a reality.