Turkish businesses visit Haiti to explore opportunities
Le Nouvelliste | Publié le : 04 décembre 2014
A delegation of Turkish businessmen conducted an exploratory visit to Haiti last week. During this visit, the Turkish investors were invited to dinner by Bernard José Schettini, General Director of the National Society of Industrial Parks (SONAPI in French). During the dinner held at SONAPI, Schettini invited businessmen to invest in Haiti and offered them a fruitful cooperation between Haiti and Turkey because "Haiti is open for business."
llThis moment was marked by the different presentations of SONAPI activities and services. Schettini traced the history of metropolitan parks in Port-au-Prince and the Caracol Park in Limonade. "This is a first for Haiti to receive Turkish businessmen at the national level, and I hope that this cooperation will be beneficial. I intend to visit Turkey in the near future," said Schettini.
This exploratory visit took place to strengthen cooperative relations between the two countries. After many exchanges, investors agreed about the need to strengthen exchanges between the two countries in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, energy, urban and educational facilities. They promise to build a lasting partnership in the field of construction and boost the disaster risk management process.
Turkish contractors have increased their presence in Haiti through the inauguration of "Harmony International School," which opened in Port-au-Prince in October 2014. Built by the NIL Foundation with the support of KIMSE YOK MU, a Turkish NGO in Haiti, the school is part of the Haitian-Turkish cooperation for sustainable development after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.
Located at # 21 Rue de Bellevue, Pacot, Harmony International School was inaugurated on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 in the presence of some Haitian and foreign personalities. They included Louis Délima Chery, representative of the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP in French), Jacky Lumarque, Rector of l'Université Quisqueya, Deputy Perilus Worms, a delegation of Turkish businessmen and parents. The ceremony was chaired by Jeantel Cheramy, a former fellow of the Turkish government.
Offering 1st, 3rd, and 7th basic year classes, this academic institution is looking for students and offers scholarships to qualified students. Classes are taught in several languages including math and experimental sciences. Under the supervision of the NIL Foundation, this school is led by Murat Tosun, General Director, Doremy Cheramy, Education Director, two Deputy Directors and a group of qualified foreign and Haitian teachers.
According to Tosun, it is through education that we triumph over ignorance, through work and the possession of capital that one overcomes poverty, and dialogue and tolerance ends separatism and internal division.
"To meet this vision, Harmony International School is an institution that will provide an international standard of education where children receive a bilingual (French and English) education. They will be able to master other languages, including Spanish and Turkish. We believe that the future of a nation depends on its youth. All people who want to secure their future must spend much energy to raise their children. Real life is possible only by gaining knowledge.”
Translated from Le Nouvelliste
by Rachele Viard
