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View Full Version : Exports to Haiti could top US$1 billion



NewsWhore
02-26-2010, 03:10 PM
While a large part of the DR's trade with Haiti takes place in the bi-national markets without controls or statistical records, the official figures from 2008 show that trade was worth US$569 million. For 2009, Dominican exports to Haiti were estimated at nearly US$700 million, but if unregistered exports were to be added to that figure, the total would be closer to a billion dollars.
However, a study commissioned by the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD) indicated that many problems needed to be resolved before trade could reach its full potential. The study, called "Frontier Trade between the Dominican Republic and Haiti: A proposal for the formalizing and humanizing of the bi-national markets", pointed out many of the main problems. It also identified the 12 points along the frontier where bi-national market days take place.
The problems that impede better operation of the markets are found on both sides of the frontier. They include a dispute between Dominican and Haitian freight haulers for the control of haulage from the frontier to the final destination in Haiti, a need to define prices for the articles that are traded, the lack of security on both sides of the border, the lack of commercial regulations in the Haitian customs offices which often leads to varying tariffs, no logistics system for any of the markets, the sorry state of transport infrastructure due to the poor roads in Haiti, poorly packaged and presented products, political and social unrest in Haiti, high costs of stevedores and freight in Haiti, and high costs of freight costs in the Dominican Republic.
In response to this long list of problems, CEI-RD recommends the creation of a physical infrastructure to house the markets on both sides of the border and develop lodging at the principal centers or frontier marketplaces. Finally, they recommend road improvements leading to the market towns.

More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#3)