On the occasion of Industry Week, David Coles, president of the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH), defended national production as a pillar of the country's economic recovery and paid tribute to those who continue to invest despite everything.<\/i><\/p>

"I believe that everyone who works in industrialization, everyone who invests in this country, right now, are heroes." A sharp statement that doesn't belong to rhetoric but to reality. Indeed, entrepreneur, logistics specialist, and president of the ADIH since July for a two-year term, David Coles, guest of Panel Magik<\/i> on September 30, 2026, speaks from experience. He knows what it costs to run a business in Haiti in 2026. And that is precisely why Industry Week, for him, is not a mere showcase. It is a reminder of the importance of those who continue to produce.<\/p>

Being an entrepreneur in Haiti today means navigating an environment where almost everything complicates production. According to the president of the ADIH, insecurity is the main obstacle and perhaps the most devastating. "Some have seen their premises vandalized, looted, or destroyed. Others have lost stock, equipment, years of work in just a few hours," he advances. Furthermore, transporting goods from one point to another in the country has become a trial, with entire areas hard to access, blocked roads, and extended delays. Even getting employees to their workplaces has become a daily problem.<\/p>

Insecurity is compounded by high production costs. Electricity remains a challenge for an industry that needs reliability. Imported raw materials weigh on costs. Logistics has also become more difficult. On top of this, financing issues arise: sometimes inaccessible rates, banks hesitant to take risks in such an uncertain environment, and guarantees that fragile entrepreneurs cannot always provide. It is utopian for local entrepreneurs, with all these costs, to compete against cheap imports. The result: nearly 80% of the Haitian population's consumption comes from abroad, notes the entrepreneur.<\/p>

David Coles summarizes the situation by referencing "eight years of economic contraction," particularly marked by declining exports and difficulties faced by businesses. For him, some of them need to be supported to regain their production capacity. At this stage, "Mechanisms for recapitalization are needed," he asserts, calling for the establishment of adapted financing mechanisms, guarantees, and funds that allow affected companies to recover.<\/p>

An existing industry that must go further<\/h4>

Despite this context, the Haitian industry is present, and David Coles is keen to remind it. Pasta, beverages, rum, cereals, essential oils, hygiene products, paper, detergents, packaging, plastics, construction materials, electrical components, textiles: companies are producing, employing, and creating value. But their potential remains largely untapped. Cocoa, coffee, mangoes, fruits and vegetables, pharmaceuticals, recycling, and fishing are sectors that could further develop if conditions allowed.<\/p>

"We have enormous potential in agriculture," emphasizes the ADIH president, who sees agro-industry as one of the country's development possibilities. Essential oils are already an export product, and mangoes previously represented several million dollars in exports. In this sense, the challenge, according to him, would be to further transform the resources available in Haiti instead of systematically importing products that could be manufactured locally.<\/p>

"Industry creates jobs, adds value, and allows us to reduce our dependence on imports," explains David Coles. However, he believes that entrepreneurs cannot bear the weight of economic recovery alone. They need concrete responses, and he manages to identify them unequivocally. The recapitalization of fragile businesses is an immediate urgency: adapted financing mechanisms, accessible rates, guarantees allowing banks to take more risks, and dedicated funds for struggling companies.<\/p>

The importation of raw materials and equipment must also be facilitated. The entrepreneur particularly mentions the possibility of granting tax and customs exemptions on products necessary for production. Moreover, energy is another priority. "We need reliable and cheaper electricity," he insists. Without available energy at a reasonable cost, businesses struggle to maintain regular and competitive production. Infrastructure must also support this ambition. Ports, roads, electricity, and means of transport are essential to allow companies to produce and transport their goods.<\/p>

Developing the regions<\/strong><\/h4>

Industrial ambition should not be limited to Port-au-Prince either. David Coles calls for a national reflection that takes into account realities specific to different departments. "We need an industrial ambition for the North, for the South, for the Center, for all departments," he asserts. Industrial development must therefore stem from the resources available in each region. Agro-industry, fishing, or even construction materials can offer different opportunities depending on the territories. But to allow these sectors to develop, investment in necessary infrastructure is also required. Ports, electricity, and transport networks must be designed based on the economic activities that each region seeks to develop.<\/p>

David Coles thus calls for a structured industrial policy lasting several decades. Entrepreneurs need visibility to know in what environment they are investing, what infrastructure will be available, and what tax or customs conditions will apply. He also advocates for a vision that goes beyond government changes and immediate urgencies. "We need to continue believing that national production is what supports us," he repeats.<\/p>

The president of the ADIH hopes that this orientation will be maintained over the next twenty or thirty years. For him, producing more in Haiti, creating jobs, and transforming local resources are not just immediate economic goals. They are choices that can determine the opportunities available to future generations. And in this battle to maintain national production despite the difficulties, David Coles believes that those who continue to invest and work in Haiti deserve special recognition.<\/p>