Friday, Didier Fils-Aimé, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti (CCIH) especially accompanied by Théo Winner, President of the Maison Geo Winner, specialized for more than 100 years in the purchase, processing and export of cocoa and coffee, have made an exploratory visit in the third communal section of Petit-Goâve, to assess the potential of rural areas in terms of production of cocoa and coffee, and encourage secondly, the plantations of these two products.

Didier Fils-Aimé explained “[…] One of my responsibilities is to promote business across the country. If the peasants of Petit-Goâve plant or cultivate cocoa, I must seek and propose them buyers. It is in this sense that the members of the company Geo Winner accompanied me. We visited some sections and we saw a potential for cocoa. It is in this perspective that the company Geo Winner will accompany farmers of Petit-Goâve by providing them technical guidance to increase their production. Therefore, many more farmers will have access to wealth in the rural areas.

[…] the Maison Geo Winner will purchase and export the products abroad. It will be a win-win situation not only for farmers but also for the Maison Winner. The first thing we will do is to increase cocoa production in Petit-Goâve by providing technical assistance to growers and creating in a second time, a storage center and purchase.”

In his speech the President of the Maison Winner, declared “[…] We will support farmers through the 12 communal sections of Petit-Goâve in the implementation of different nurseries at the level of communal sections, for a general cocoa production in the commune. We will develop an association of cocoa planters for the cultivation and marketing of this product. The Maison Winner will provide technical assistance and post-harvest in the preparation, for a better quality of cocoa. We will revitalize the cocoa and coffee sector in Petit-Goâve.”

Following this visit, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti concluded “This is the kind of win-win partnership, which will facilitate the recovery of agricultural production. These days it is said that Haiti is open for business, I support that Haiti should be open to agriculture, it is the only way to save us, because a country whose food depends on another is not sovereign. We will invest in agriculture and contribute to increased domestic production.”

Thumbnail :left Didier Fils-Aimé (CCIH), right Théo Winner President of the Maison Geo Winner.

HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goâve)